DES MOINES, Iowa — Algona Bishop Garrigan’s latest trip to the state championship game didn’t come without a fight.

The Golden Bears led by 20 early in the fourth quarter, then found themselves fending off Dunkerton in the closing minutes for a 49-38 semifinal victory. Garrigan (24-2) ran its winning streak to 17 and will go for its third Class 1A title at 7 o’clock Saturday night to close out the high school season.

Shooting 17 percent heading into the fourth quarter, the Dunkerton players finally found their touch and stormed back. The Raiders knocked down three 3-pointers in a 15-2 run over a 4 ½-minute stretch to draw to 45-38 with 1:20 left.

Then they got the ball back twice in a row on a steal and turnover and had two good shots from 3-point range but missed both. With Dunkerton forced to foul, Garrigan made four free throws to finish it off.

Emmi Bartolo’s 17 points led Garrigan, which won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 with Audi Crooks leading the way. Madelyn Tigges added 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting, Sacha Alesh scored seven and Graclyn Eastman contributed five points and 14 rebounds.

Hailey Kipp led Dunkerton (23-3) with 11 points, Abbi Waskow scored nine and Kylee Pexa added eight. Kipp also pulled down 12 rebounds, made two steals and blocked two shots.

Garrigan trailed 5-2 early, then scored the final 12 points of the first quarter for a 14-5 lead. Bartolo hit two 3-pointers to start the run, Alesch converted a three-point play off a steal and Ava Roethler capped it with a triple, which followed another steal.

A 7-0 run helped the Golden Bears to a 28-15 halftime lead and they continued pulling away in the third quarter to go up 41-21. Kipp’s jumper cut the lead to 18 and the end of the period, but Garrigan went right back up by 20 on Tigges’ layup 40 seconds in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Bears did not score again until the four late free throws and the Raiders charged back to make things interesting.