-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Hunter Horn of St. Edmond shoots around Webster City on Tuesday inside Gaels Gym

For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the St. Edmond boys have a share of the North Central Conference championship.

After securing a split with No. 7 (Class 3A) Clear Lake last Friday, the top-ranked (1A) Gaels handled business here Tuesday on Senior Night, besting Webster City, 59-32.

Hunter Horn tallied the first 14 points of the third quarter for St. Edmond (19-2 overall, 13-1 in league), finishing with a game-high 22 points. Horn also had seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

Carson Bargfrede and Jakob Koopman each added eight points, with Grant Galles chipping in seven. Bargfrede recorded five rebounds, Koopman had four steals, Galles three steals and a fifth senior starter, Jack McElroy had six rebounds.

“We did a much better job of moving the basketball in the second half,” SEHS head coach Adolph Kochendorfer said. “It can be tough after such a high-energy game like we had with Clear Lake to come back out here because you really can’t have that same kind of emotion with each game.

“But I thought we did a good job of staying focused and executing. We got Hunter some space and he did what he always does.”

The Lynx (2-17, 1-12) kept it close through the first 12 minutes before a 14-2 run to close the opening half put St. Edmond in control. Jaxon Griffith had a team-high 11 points with Coyce Bertran adding seven.

“Webster City is a big, physical team that was really aggressive,” Kochendorfer said. “We had to adjust to that, and eventually, I thought we did.”

The Gaels are now 43-6 over the past two seasons, their best two-year run since going 51-3 from 2007-09.

During halftime of the girls game, seniors Koopman, McElroy, Galles, Jackson Calvert, Thomas Knobbe, Horn, Bargfrede, Drake Vandi, Jacob Moore and Jamison Baker were all recognized.

“They have been just an incredible group to coach,” Kochendorfer said. “All of their accomplishments speak for themselves, but beyond that, they are a really fun group to be around.”

St. Edmond will now await the start of postseason play, hosting either AGWSR or West Hancock on Monday. Webster City heads to Humboldt Friday night.

ST. EDMOND 59, WEBSTER CITY 32

St. Edmond — Jakob Koopman 3 2-2 8, Jack McElroy 1 0-0 3, Grant Galles 2 2-2 7, Hunter Horn 10 2-4 22, Carson Bargfrede 4 0-0 8, Ty Mericle 0 0-0 0, Logan Hanson 3 0-0 6, Jackson Calvert 1 0-0 2, Griffin Laufersweiler 1 0-0 3, Jamison Baker 0 0-0 0, Thomas Knobbe 0 0-0 0, Jacob Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 6-9 59.

Webster City — Alex Staley 0 2-2 2, Coyce Bertran 3 1-4 7, Grant Arends 1 0-0 3, Jaxon Griffith 5 0-0 11, Zack Lahr 1 0-0 2, Carter Mickelson 2 0-0 5, William Ruby 1 0-0 2, Grayson Henderson 0 0-0 0, Nathan Wardell 0 0-0 0, Jayden Lacey 0 0-0 0, Eian Becker 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 3-6 32.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond led 15-9, 30-16, 52-21. Three-point goals: St. Edmond 3 (Galles 1, Horn 1, Laufersweiler 1), Webster City 3 (Arends 1, Griffith 1, Mickelson 1). Total rebounds: St. Edmond 39, Webster City 29. Steals: St. Edmond 10, Webster City 5. Blocked shots: St. Edmond 2, Webster City 1. Turnovers: St. Edmond 14, Webster City 20. Team fouls: St. Edmond 14, Webster City 11.