CLARION — The St. Edmond boys finally hit the court here Friday night, running past Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 81-55.

Hunter Horn, a returning all-stater, scored a game-high 28 points, as Carson Bargfrede added 27 for the Gaels (1-0 overall, 1-0 in North Central Conference).

Horn and Bargfrede are two returning pieces from a team that reached the Class 1A state semifinals last year along with starters Jakob Koopman, Grant Galles and Jack McElroy. Koopman scored seven points and Galles had five, as Ty Mericle added eight.

“We struggled early, but we were able to settle in by working the basketball and finding the open man,” SEHS head coach Adolph Kochendorfer said. “They doubled Hunter, but he did a great job of passing out of it. We got some good, open looks and the kids knocked them down.

“Once that happened, we were able to go to Hunter inside and he finished strong.”

St. Edmond jumped out early, scoring 21 points in the first quarter. They tooka 45-26 lead into the half and outscored the Cowboys (1-1, 0-1) in the third, 21-11.

“We did a much better job in the third on both ends of the court,” Kochendorfer said. “Clarion-Goldfield/Dows returns a lot and they are a physical team, but I thought we did well on the boards.

“We wanted to keep them under 60 points, so that was good to see.”

Chaz Lane led Clarion-Goldfield/Dows with 23 points.

The Gaels return to action on Tuesday when they host Southeast Valley beginning at 7:30 p.m.

ST. EDMOND 81,

CLARION-GOLDFIELD/DOWS 55

St. Edmond — Hunter Horn 28, Carson Bargfrede 27, Ty Mericle 8, Jakob Koopman 7, Grant Galles 5, Jackson Calvert 3, Jacob Nieland 3.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows — Chaz Lane 23, Tristan Kakacek 9, Huxley Lingenfelter 4, Jacob Ruba 2, JD Morrical 7, McCoy Yackle 7, Armando Melendez 2.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond led 21-10, 45-26, 66-37.