Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The St. Edmond basketball team celebrates after winning the Class 1A state championship on Friday in Des Moines.

DES MOINES — For the second time in program history, the St. Edmond boys are state basketball champions.

And just like the first in 2000, this one had an incredible rally.

Down by seven points late in the third quarter, the Gaels found their rhythm, using an incredible 19-0 run to defeat Bellevue Marquette here Friday in the Class 1A final, 54-42.

All-state senior Hunter Horn led the charge, scoring nine of his game-high 21 points during a rally that captivated a packed Casey’s Center full of fans clad in Green and White.

Horn closed the third quarter with four consecutive points, spearheading what would become 15 unanswered to start the final period vs. the Defenders, who were in the championship round for a third consecutive season.

This marked the sixth appearance all-time in a title game for St. Edmond legendary head coach Adolph Kochendorfer, who announced during the season that he would be retiring following this year. The Gaels also finished second in 2004, ’06, ’08 and ’12.