The Bishop Garrigan girls react after beating Dunkerton in a Class 1A state semifinal in the Casey’s Center.

DES MOINES — Emmi Bartolo and Sacha Alesch already know what it’s like to win a state championship.

Now, their teammates will get a chance to join them.

The Bishop Garrigan seniors were freshmen members of the program’s 2023 title squad. Now in their final season, they’re helping guide the ship.

The Golden Bears (24-2 overall) punched their fifth state finals ticket in the last seven seasons with a 49-38 win over Dunkerton (23-3).

“It feels great to make it back as a senior,” Bartolo said. “As a freshman, I didn’t have as big of a role as I do now, so I’m just looking forward to giving it all I have in the final game of my career.

“We knew Dunkerton would have a fight — all great teams do — but we stayed tough and stayed together.”

Alesch is excied to get the opportunity to bring everything full circle.

“It means everything to us,” Alesch said. “We have been hungry for a title since our freshman year and we have been working so hard to get to this point.

“To get to experience this with my best friends is one of the greatest blessings.”

For the fourth time in their five finals trips, the Golden Bears meet fellow perennial power and second seeded Newell-Fonda in Saturday’s Class 1A championship inside the Casey’s Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

“We have to play mentally tough against Newell-Fonda,” said BGHS head coach Brandon Schwab. “They will go on their runs and we are going to go on a run. We will make mistakes, but we have to be mentally tough for 32 minutes.

“This is a motivated group. They know the type of aggressiveness they possess. Our kids are ready and excited.”

It wasn’t the typical game for either squad, as both sides struggled to shoot early on. The Bears defense flexed their muscles, though, after building what looked like a comfortable lead.

The Bears forced 16 Raider turnovers, blocking five shots and recording nine steals. They out-rebounded Dunkerton 46-38. Garrigan made a living in the paint, scoring 26 points and 13 points off turnovers.

With the Bears up 43-23 and seven minutes remaining, the Raiders went into chaotic mode with a flurry and cut the deficit to 45-38 on a 15-6 run.

“We showed our composure,” Schwab said. “We showed a little fatigue and made some bad decisions late, but we built up a lead in the first three-and-a-half quarters.

“I had one timeout, but I wanted to keep it in my back pocket in case we needed it. We knew they weren’t going to quit.”

Bishop Garrigan settled down and controlled the clock and the ball to return to the state title game. The Golden Bears are looking for their first crown since 2023, led by all-state standouts Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce.

It was a slow start for both squads, as they struggled from the field early. Dunkerton got on the board first at the 6:46 mark with a triple. Garrigan’s first basket came at 5:36.

Bartolo hit a trey with 3:23 left in the opening period and Schwab quickly called a timeout. The Garrigan head coach for the past 15 seasons calmed his squad down, and they quickly went on a 12-0 run to close the quarter ahead 14-5.

“In that timeout we talked about getting paint touches,” Schwab said. “Defensively we stayed in the game and we kept putting pressure on.

“We challenged the guards to get open and make an assist.”

Bartolo led the Bears from the field and came up with big shots in the contest. Bartolo finished with 17 points and hit three triples. Madelyn Tigges was also in double figures with 14 points. She had six rebounds as well.

“Emmi is a four-year player and was on the title team. She’s been in the big moments,” Schwab said. “We haven’t played our best basketball offensively all week, so hopefully, we do it in the championship game.

“We have five different players that can lead us in scoring, and don’t care who does.”

Leading scorer Graclyn Eastman didn’t have a big scoring effort, but was a threat on the boards with 14, to go along with three assists, two steals and three blocks.

“I think our team played with a lot of grit and intensity. We knew going into this game it was going to be tough and we would face adversity, but we knew if we stayed mentally tough we could win,” Eastman said. “It’s super special getting to a title game especially with this team. We have a few seniors that have played in this game before, so the experience I think is really going to benefit us.

“We are super excited to play in this big game, and hopefully, go out on top.”

Schwab loves the fact that his squad has the ability to help in a number of ways.

“Graclyn does much more (than score), and you saw that with her 14 rebounds,” Schwab said. “She got into early foul trouble with two, so I put her on the bench and with the lead I kept her there.

“With her inside, they have to double team her. That frees up our guards and other players.”

Carley Nielson had six rebounds and two steals. Ava Roethler came off the bench and grabbed six rebounds.

Hailey Kipp led the Raiders with a double-double. She had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Abbi Waskow added nine points, connecting on three from behind the arc.

“Dunkerton is a great team and they hit some good shots there at the end, but all season we have been working on mental toughness and battling adversity,” Alesch said. “The team that plays the hardest the longest will win the game (on Saturday in the finals).

“That is what we live for. We live for adversity, tight battles, and emotion. And that’s how we played (Friday).”

BISHOP GARRIGAN 49, DUNKERTON 38

Dunkerton — Abbi Waskow 3-8 0-0 9, Kylee Pexa 3-14 1-2 8, Ava Fuelling 2-9 0-0 6, Daisy Fettkether 1-3 0-0 2, Hailey Kipp 4-19 3-6 11, Ella Fuelling 0-0 0-0, Addison Shaner 0-0 0-0 0, Delaney Toneff 0-0 0-0 0, Melayna Boeschen 0-6 2-2 2. Totals: 13-59 6-10 38.

Fort Dodge — Emmi Bartolo 5-15 4-4 17, Graclyn Eastman 1-9 3-4 5, Madelyn Tigges 7-11 0-0 14, Carley Nielsen 0-2 1-2 1, Sacha Alesch 3-12 1-1 7, Brooklyn Berte 0-0 0-0 0, Alyssa Haugland 0-0 0-0 0, Addyson Faris 0-1 0-0 0, Bree Ludwig 0-0 0-0 0, Ava Roethler 1-4 2-2 5, Lillian Erpelding-Wickman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-54 11-13 49.

Quarter scores: BG led 14-5, 28-15, 41-23. Three-point goals: Dunkerton 6-26 (Waskow 3-7, Pexa 1-6, A. Fuelling 2-8, Kipp 0-3, Boeschen 0-2); Bishop Garrigan 4-17 (Bartolo 3-9, Eastman 0-1, Nielson 0-1, Alesch 0-4, Faris 0-1, Roethler 1-1). Total rebounds: Dunkerton 38, Bishop Garrigan 46; Assists: Dunkerton 9, Bishop Garrigan 8; Steals: Dunkerton 8, Bishop Garrigan 9; Blocks: Dunkerton 3, Bishop Garrigan 5; Turnovers: Dunkerton 15, Bishop Garrigan 16; Total fouls: Dunkerton 12, Bishop Garrigan 11.