-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Grant Galles of St. Edmond shoots over Humboldt on Monday inside Gaels gym

The fourth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond boys basketball team has the skill set and court intelligence to take down an opponent in a multitude of ways.

On Monday, the Gaels caught fire from behind the three-point arc on their way to a 56-38 victory over Humboldt.

Starters Hunter Horn, Jakob Koopman, Carson Bargfrede and Jack McElroy combined to make nine of their 11 triple tries as the Gaels (16-2 overall, 11-1 in the North Central Conference) stayed within a game of No. 7 (3A) Clear Lake (15-1, 12-0) in the league race ahead of Friday’s showdown in the SEHS gym. A 15-0 run to close the first quarter and start the second was all the breathing room head coach Adolph Kochendorfer’s squad would need as the visiting Wildcats (9-7, 5-5) never got within double digits again.

“We’ve talked recently about better starts,” Kochendorfer said. “I think we did a good job of dictating the tempo and getting after it defensively. That stretch from late into the (opening period) until about midway through the second, we really disrupted things and I think forced them to rush their shots a little. And that’s a solid, quick, physical (Humboldt team).”

The Wildcats struggled from the field all night — much like the first meeting between the NCC rivals. Humboldt missed 13 of its first 15 shots and went nearly seven minutes without a point during the St. Edmond surge that turned a 5-3 deficit into an 18-5 advantage.

Koopman was everywhere in the first half. The senior had 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks, swishing three treys to the chants of “Koop” from the loud Gael contingent.

Before last night, Koopman had made only five triples total on the year.

“Jakob is capable of do that, though.” Kochendorfer said. “That’s not necessarily out of his range or ability level — he just doesn’t always look for it. But if you leave him open, he can knock it down.

“He works so hard and I think his effort on defense and rebounding the basketball really led to those (opportunities). They were all in rhythm.”

It took a while for Horn to get going, but he also ultimately found success in an unlikely spot from deep as well. Sitting at 9-for-30 on the year heading into the contest from three-point range, Horn drilled three in as many tries against the Wildcats.

Horn warmed up in the second quarter, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points — including a 5-for-6 effort at the foul line.

“Hunter showed patience. Really, all of our guys did,” Kochendorfer said. “The shots (from two-point range) weren’t falling, and Humboldt deserves some credit for that. We’re typically not a perimeter team, but we got more uncontested looks from there than around the basket and we took advantage.”

Senior Carson Bargfrede had eight of his 10 points in the fourth period, swishing both of his treys. Senior Jack McElroy contributed seven, including a 30-foot three-pointer to end the opening frame.

Horn grabbed 12 rebounds, with Koopman adding nine boards and four blocked shots. Senior Grant Galles tallied seven rebounds of his own.

The Wildcats were 15 of 56 from the floor and 6-for-25 from distance. In a 61-55 overtime home loss to the Gaels last month, Humboldt made just 21 of 60 shots overall and went 11-for-39 from deep.

Chase Flaherty (9 points), Jackson Flaherty (8) and Valley Davis (8) paced head coach Ryan O’Hern’s squad on Monday.

St. Edmond, which has now reeled off five straight wins by at least 18 points since a loss at Bishop Garrigan on Jan. 19, now faces Pocahontas Area at home on Thursday as a warm-up act to the showdown with the Lions.

Last night was a “Coaches Against Cancer” event, with free-will donations, a “fill the bucket” challenge, autographed team photos, hot chocolate sales, cancer ribbons and more. All total, St. Edmond activities director David Flattery confirmed the two schools raised over $5,000 on Monday.

ST. EDMOND 56, HUMBOLDT 38

St. Edmond — Hunter Horn 6-19 6-8 21, Jakob Koopman 4-7 1-2 12, Carson Bargfrede 4-6 0-0 10, Jack McElroy 3-4 0-0 7, Grant Galles 3-6 0-0 6, Ty Mericle 0-0 0-0 0, Logan Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, Griffin Laufersweiler 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Moore 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson Calvert 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas Ehn 0-0 0-0 0, Garrett Royster 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-44 7-10 56.

Humboldt — Chase Flaherty 3-11 0-0 9, Jackson Flaherty 4-14 0-0 9, Valley Davis 2-6 2-4 8, Chase Hansen 2-4 0-0 4, Cade Birdsell 1-9 0-0 2, Dane Clark 3-7 0-0 6, Karson Rubel 0-3 0-0 0, Cooper Theesfeld 0-2 0-0 0, Levi Rieck 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Girres 0-0 0-0 0, Nathan Lynch 0-0 0-0 0, Zach Theesfeld 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-56 2-4 38.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond 13-5, 33-16, 42-26. Three-point goals: St. Edmond 9-13 (Horn 3-3, Koopman 3-4, Bargfrede 2-2, McElroy 1-2, Mericle 0-1, Laufersweiler 0-1); Humboldt 6-25 (C. Flaherty 3-8, Davis 2-2, J. Flaherty 1-5, Birdsell 0-4, Rieck 0-3, Hansen 0-1, Clark 0-1, C. Theesfeld 0-1). Turnovers: St. Edmond 10, Humboldt 12. Total fouls: St. Edmond 9, Humboldt 13.