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FDSH stunned at the buzzer

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Solomon Clayton of Fort Dodge drives between Des Moines East's James Bilim (5) and Katrell Graham (15) on Monday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Fort Dodge boys basketball coach Tom Daniel called it the one of the toughest things to do as a coach.

Just minutes earlier, Daniel walked into a solemn locker room and consoled his basketball team after the Dodgers were stunned at the buzzer by Des Moines East, 72-71, in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal on Monday night in the Dodger gym.

“It’s devastating, there’s no other way to put it,” Daniel said. “There’s nothing I can say that will make them feel better. It’s a good group and they had their hearts broken.”

Their hearts were broken and their season ended by East senior Cameron Cramer, who drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Scarlets (4-19) to a substate semifinal on Friday night at Des Moines North (16-5).

The Scarlets had lost 11 straight coming into Monday’s game.

Fort Dodge closes out a 13-9 year, which is its first winning record since the 2014 campaign. The Dodgers won 13 regular-season games for just the second time since 1988-89.

“These moments are the toughest as a coach. It’s unfortunate, but this is the downside of sports,” Daniel said. “It’s difficult when you lose a game like this. You watch film and you start to second-guess yourself.

“But no one should forget these guys elevated Fort Dodge basketball again,” the coach added. “These kids didn’t deserve this, but we’ve got to deal with it now.”

East got back into the game with a 30-point fourth quarter. The Scarlets trailed by as many as 15 in the third and were down 51-42 going into the final eight minutes.

“We didn’t go a good job of being patient and running our offense in the fourth,” said Daniel. “Our offense became stagnant. We didn’t run our offense and use the clock to our advantage.”

Senior Solomon Clayton scored 24 points in his final game. Junior Malcom Clayton added 14.

Cramer finished with 29 points for East, while Daires Adams added 16 and George Dentzler 10.

The Dodgers could have put East away earlier, but they missed four free throws in the fourth and nine overall on the evening.

“You have to make free throws down the stretch to put away a game like this,” said Daniel.

Malcolm Clayton hit two free throws and then Trey Mosley scored after Brady Read blocked a three-point attempt by East to give the Dodgers a 68-62 lead with 1:25 to play.

East then got a three from Dantzler, a bucket from Adams and two free throws from Vincent Lloyd to match just a single free throw from Solomon Clayton and the game was tied at 70 with 29 seconds to go.

Mosley was fouled as the Dodgers were working the clock for a final shot, and he calmly splashed both free throws with seven seconds remaining for a 71-69 advantage.

East got the ball to Cramer, who rushed up at the left side of the court and launched the ball just outside the three-point line for the game-winner.

“I told the kids a two doesn’t hurt us, but a three is a killer. (Cramer) went for the win there. We just had to get the ball out of his hands,” Daniel said.

After a slow start, the Dodgers used a 17-0 run to close the first half and take a 31-20 lead into the break. East actually went scoreless for 6:06 in game time over the second and third periods as the Dodgers took a 35-20 advantage with 7:01 left in the third.

East got it back to 36-30 with 4:57 left in the quarter but the Dodgers scored eight straight to lead 44-30.

The Dodgers had a 51-38 lead with 42 seconds left in the third but East got a bucket from Lloyd and Cramer to cut it to 51-42.

“East’s energy was contagious. They had nothing to lose,” Daniel said. “I told the kids before the game the pressure was on us. I knew it would be tough getting through this one because of that.”

Eight seniors suited up for the Dodgers for the last time. Along with Read and Solomon Clayton, the Dodgers lose Austin Gehlhausen, Zach Colin, Jonny Bowser, Andrew Straight, Marco Fumagalli and Silas Naylor.

“Brady Read played his tail off for his last game,” said Daniel. “He really laid it out there. When I looked up, I figured he had 20 points.

“Our seniors have done so much for this program in terms of having the right attitude and mentality. They’ve made a difference and will be remembered for that well into the future of Dodger basketball.”

On the other side of the bracket, Ankeny beat Southeast Polk 64-58. The Hawks will play at Waukee in the other semifinal Friday night.

The substate final is next Tuesday in Dallas Center.

Des Moines East 72, Fort Dodge 71

East – Camet Soe 2-7 0-0 4, Cameron Cramer 11-19 5-6 29, George Dantzler 4-11 0-2 10, Daires Adams 5-10 3-3 16, Vincent Lloyd 3-4 3-3 9, James Bilim 1-2 2-2 4, Kong Neyail 0-0 0-0 0, Katrell Graham 0-0 0-0 0, Derek Henderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 13-16 72.

Fort Dodge – Trey Mosley 3-3 2-2 8, Malcolm Clayton 3-10 8-10 14, Silas Naylor 3-4 0-1 7, Jordan Jackson 4-5 1-3 9, Solomon Clayton 10-15 4-6 24, Brady Read 2-3 4-6 8, Damion Chavez 1-2 0-0 2, Jonny Bowser 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-43 19-28 71.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 12-11, 31-20, 51-42. Three-point shots: East 7-17 (Cramer 2-6, Dentzler 2-6, Adams 3-5). Fort Dodge 0-2 (M. Clayton 0-2). Total fouls: East 23, Fort Dodge 19. Fouled out: Soe, Dentzler, Bilim, Naylor.

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