×

Dodgers cap perfect week by drubbing Bobcats

Photo by Adam Ring, for The Messenger Solomon Clayton shoots for Fort Dodge at Marshalltown on Friday night.

MARSHALLTOWN — Tom Daniel was leery of a letdown after Fort Dodge upset No. 2 Des Moines Hoover on Friday.

It turns out the Dodger head coach had nothing to worry about.

The Dodgers (3-1 overall, 1-0 CIML North) found their comfort zone and cruised to a 54-30 victory over winless Marshalltown (0-4, 0-1) here last night.

“After (Hoover), we knew we had to get refocused right away,” Daniel said. “They haven’t won a game yet, but Marshalltown is always a tough place to play and getting a win on the road isn’t always an easy thing to do.

“When we’ve played Marshalltown before, we’ve had countless different ways we’ve lost. This was a positive step, keeping focused on the task at hand.”

In the first half, the Dodgers held the Bobcats to single digits in each quarter (nine and four points, respectively). Fort Dodge also held Marshalltown to four points in the fourth quarter.

“We played well in the first half against a team that is searching for their first ‘W’ on their home court,” Daniel said. “Our goal is to hold teams to single-digit (scoring) quarters, and we did that. The third quarter got a little shaky, but we kept fighting.

“Defense has been our calling card. Our effort was strong on that end again.”

Senior Solomon Clayton once again led the Dodgers with 17 points. Junior Malcolm Clayton added nine.

“Solomon has definitely been emerging,” Daniel said. “He had a nice dunk where he jumped over a couple of people, and it really fired us up. Malcolm runs the show (at the point), and got a lot of guys involved.”

The Dodgers will now step into a tough part of their schedule this coming week, as they face Waukee at home on Tuesday and travel to No. 3 West Des Moines Dowling on Friday.

“We are starting to tighten things up. Now we have to get ready for Waukee and Dowling,” Daniel said. “We are settling into roles and a rotation. Consistency will be as important as ever (this week).”

FORT DODGE 54, MARSHALLTOWN 30

Fort Dodge — Austin Gehlhausen 0, Joe Artis 0, Trey Mosley 6, Malcolm Clayton 9, Zach Colin 0, Jonny Bowser 2, Andrew Strait 0, Jace Peterson 2, Tyreike Mericle 0, Brady Read 5, Damion Chavez 2, Marco Fumagalli 0, Edker Foy 3, Jordan Jackson 8, Solomon Clayton 17.

Marshalltown — Conner Beaty 0, Josh Melde 4, Austin Case 0, Jacob Smith 2, Dayton Slifer 3, Sean McWilliams 0, Blake Linsemeyer 2, Reid Nennig 0, Austin Tulis 2, Marquis Haynes 0, Luke Appel 17, Sam Brintnall 0, BreninDavis 0.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 14-9, 30-13, 43-26.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today