ALGONA — Being the top-ranked team in Class 1A has both its perks and challenges in the eyes of St. Edmond boys basketball coach Adolph Kochendorfer.

There is a pride and swagger that comes with the territory at the top, but No. 1 squads will almost always get an opponent’s best shot.

On Monday, fourth-rated Bishop Garrigan brought its A game and edged the Gaels by a 61-59 final in a rivalry showdown on the Golden Bears’ home floor.

St. Edmond (10-2 overall) had five chances to tie or take the lead in the final seconds, but Garrigan (13-1) held on for the dramatic victory.

“We played well overall, but to their credit, they shot lights out (9 of 17 from three-point range) and deserved to win,” Kochendorfer said. “It goes like that sometimes.

“We have to get back to the drawing board on some things. That’s the good part about challenging yourself on the road like this against a top opponent — any of the stuff you’ve been letting slip through the cracks finds its way to the surface. And when you’re No. 1, you know you’re going to see the other team and fanbase fired up when you walk into their gym.”

Senior Hunter Horn led all scorers with 27 points for the Gaels, with Jack McElroy (13 points) and Jakob Koopman (10) also reaching double figures.

The Golden Bears were balanced, with Tate Foertsch (16 points), Michael Joyce (16), Amaury Thomas (14) and Carter Schwab (11) leading the way. Thomas also grabbed 12 rebounds.

“We’ve been a little flat at times, especially at the start of games,” Kochendorfer said. “We got hurt on rotations, where we we got caught just kind of watching. Hopefully we’ll clean it all up and regroup from here.”

The Gaels head to Iowa Falls-Alden on Tuesday, before returning home to take on Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on Friday.

Bishop Garrigan 61, St. Edmond 59

Bishop Garrigan — Tate Foertsch 16, Michael Joyce 16, Amaury Thomas 14, Carter Schwab 11, Madden Miller 4.

St. Edmond — Hunter Horn 27, Jack McElroy 13, Jakob Koopman 10, Grant Galles 5, Carson Bargfrede 4.

Quarter scores: Garrigan led 19-15, 32-31, 53-48.