Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Bishop Garrigan players react to a loss on Tuesday night in Class 1A state quarterfinal at Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — A few missed opportunities late kept the Bishop Garrigan boys from advancing here Monday night.

The Golden Bears fell to Bellevue Marquette in a Class 1A state quarterfinal matchup by a final score of 58-55.

With the win, the Defenders (24-2 overall) advanced to a semifinal round meeting with MMCRU on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. from the Casey’s Center. Bellevue Marquette reached the state finals a year ago, falling to Madrid.

The Golden Bears (23-3) never led after the start, but they did tie the game at 50-all with 3:30 left in regulation on a 3-pointer from Michael Joyce. The Defenders answered right back, though, finishing things off at the free throw line.

Louis Gonner, the hero of the substate final with his game-winning triple in overtime vs. Montezuma, scored 17 points with five assists to lead Bellevue Marquette. Tate Kueter and Justin Severson each added 11 points, with Severson pulling down 15 rebounds.

For Garrigan, Michael Joyce had a game-high 22 points, draining four 3-pointers. Carter Schwab scored 14 with nine rebounds, and Amaury Thomas had 10 and nine boards.

Bellevue Marquette dominated the first half, taking a seven-point lead into the break on the heels of five made treys. Severson had 12 rebounds in the opening 16 minutes, including four on the offensive glass.

Despite struggling with the size of the Defenders, the Golden Bears never backed down. They erased a 12-point deficit, as Joyce found his shooting touch in the second half with three makes from deep.

Each time Bishop Garrigan would get close, however, Bellevue Marquette had an answer.

The contest marked the finale for Golden Bear seniors Tate Foertsch, Schwab and Thomas, who also led the team to a substate final a season ago. Foertsch and Schwab were part of the football team that won a title this past fall.

BELLEVUE MARQUETTE 58, BISHOP GARRIGAN 55

Bishop Garrigan – Michael Joyce 8-17 2-3 22, Carter Schwab 6-11 0-0 14, Amaury Thomas 3-8 4-6 10, Madden Miller 3-7 0-0 6, Tate Foertsch 1-8 0-0 3, Brad Meister 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Muller 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-52 6-9 55.

Bellevue Marquette – Louis Gonner 5-10 6-10 17, Tate Kueter 4-9 0-0 11, Justin Severson 4-7 3-6 11, Canden Weber 3-6 1-2 9, Koen Roeder 1-9 2-2 5, Taegin Smith 1-3 0-0 3, Cameron Gerlach 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 19-46 12-20 58.

Quarter scores: Bellevue Marquette led 18-11, 31-24, 45-43. Three-point goals: Bishop Garrigan 7-15 (Foertsch 1-3, Joyce 4-6, Miller 0-1, Schwab 2-5), Bellevue Marquette 8-19 (Roeder 1-5, Weber 2-4, Gonner 1-2, Smith 1-3, Kueter 3-5). Total rebounds: Bishop Garrigan 29, Bellevue Marquette 36. Assists: Bishop Garrigan 9, Bellevue Marquette 10. Steals: Bishop Garrigan 5, Bellevue Marquette 2. Blocked shots: Bishop Garrigan 2, Bellevue Marquette 2. Turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 5, Bellevue Marquette 10. Team fouls: Bishop Garrigan 15, Bellevue Marquette 11.