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DM EAST 49, FORT DODGE 33

Des Moines East - Markisha Wright 5-7 9-11 19, Nijay Gaines 4-10 4-4 14, Shronda Butts 6-12 0-1 12, Jade Kreutz 1-5 0-0 3, Sharnae Lamar 0-2 1-2 1, Royonah Marble 0-0 0-0 0, Friday Chuol 0-0 0-0 0, Chelcie Scott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-36 14-18 49.

Fort Dodge - Abby Edwards 5-10 1-2 14, Rachel Evans 1-4 5-8 7, Abbie Crouse 2-6 0-0 4, Whitney Ashbrook 1-3 0-0 2, Mackenzie Alstott 0-4 2-2 2, Chelsie Crouse 0-6 0-0 0, Emily Grell 2-4 0-0 4, Kari Becker 0-1 0-2 0, Carson Newkirk 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-32 8-14 33.

Quarter scores: East led 10-7, 24-12, 38-21. Three-point goals: East 3-12 (Gaines 2-4, Kreutz 1-3, Butts 0-3, Lamar 0-2); Fort Dodge 3-11 (Edwards 3-5, Alstott 0-3, C. Crouse 0-2, A. Crouse 0-1). Turnovers: East 11, Fort Dodge 18. Total fouls: East 15, Fort Dodge 17. Fouled out: Lamar. Technical foul: East bench.

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On the surface, it was another loss to another Top-10 team for the Fort Dodge girls here Friday.

In stretches, however, the Dodgers showed signs that their execution may soon match their effort.

No. 8 (Class 4A) Des Moines East posted a 49-33 CIML cross-conference victory inside the FDSH gym to keep head coach Bryan Friedrichs' squad winless on the young season.

Debuting on their home court seemed to at least give the Dodgers a bit of an offensive boost - albeit in spurts. The Scarlets were the quicker and stronger squad last night, but Friedrichs at least saw his ballclub taking baby steps with the ball in their hands.

''We did a better job of taking our time and making sure we valued our possessions more than we had been,'' Friedrichs said. ''We still have a long way to go, but we were more in control instead of forcing up bad shots like we had been (in losses at No. 6 Dowling and No. 2 Ankeny).

''You'll never have to question how hard these kids work. They'll get after it. I know we can hang our hat on that, but we also have to make better decisions with the basketball on a more consistent basis. It will happen.''

East juniors Markisha Wright, Nijay Gaines and Shronda Butts combined for 45 of the team's 49 points, with 15 total field goals and a 13 of 16 effort at the free throw line. The 6-foot-2 Wright and 6-0 Gaines were a handful for FDSH size-wise. Butts, meanwhile, used her strength to get to the basket almost at will for the Scarlets (4-0), who were 20-3 a year ago and return three of their top four scorers in Wright, Gaines and Butts.

Senior guard Abby Edwards had a season-high 14 points for the Dodgers, who trailed only 15-12 midway through the second quarter before East closed the half on a critical 9-0 run.

''That was obviously the turning point,'' Friedrichs said. ''If we could've gone into halftime down by just a few points compared to 12, we could've taken a much different approach the rest of the way.

''It's hard if you get behind by that much against a team of East's caliber.''

Fort Dodge's defense held the Scarlets without a field goal for the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, but its offense was sputtering as well as it only chipped three points off the deficit during that span.

Edwards knocked down three triples in five tries. Junior Rachel Evans added seven points, making 5 of 8 free throws.

The Dodgers return to action on Tuesday at Southeast Polk (2-2).

Contact Eric Pratt at (515) 573-2141, or by e-mail at sports@messengernews.net