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Thomas, ‘Cats too much for Dodgers

—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge’s Brycen Bell shoots over Marshalltown’s Will Van Buren on Friday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, visit CU at messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge boys basketball team has the better part of three weeks to decide how they want to finish the 2019-20 season.

The wins and losses won’t matter the rest of the way as much as the pride and heart they are willing to show toward each other.

After controlling the entire first quarter against CIML Iowa Conference rival Marshalltown on Friday, the Dodgers lost their edge and let Bobcat Armonniey Thomas run free during a 61-40 setback inside the FDSH gym.

Thomas, MHS’s leading scorer, came off the bench as punishment for arriving to a team shoot-around late. By the end of the night, it was the slender sophomore guard who was doing most of the punishing.

Thomas had 32 of his career-high 34 points in the final three quarters as the Bobcats completed the season sweep of FDSH.

“We really fought and out-played them in the (first period), but you look up and it’s only 5-2,” Dodger head coach Tom Daniel said. “We’ve had that happen a few times at home this year in the (opening half), where we give a great effort and we’re right there defensively, but we just can’t extend the lead.

“After that, it was just a combination of a lot of things. Communication breakdowns, not being able to run a set (on offense), struggling with our post defense, and losing Thomas more times than I can count. So we’ve got to get something figured out in a hurry here — to get on the same page as a program and show some resilience on our home court.”

Thomas had 13 points in the second quarter as Marshalltown (4-9 overall, 2-4 CIML Iowa) turned the page from its slow start and pulled ahead at 24-18. A 7-0 run to start the second half ballooned the lead to 13, and Fort Dodge (1-12, 0-6) wasn’t able to get within single digits the rest of the way in dropping its 12th consecutive contest.

Senior Tysen Kershaw led the Dodgers with 13 points before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. Fort Dodge was 20-for-27 at the free throw line, but managed only nine field goals — including three buckets in the entire second half.

Marshalltown, meanwhile, was 0-for-11 from the floor in the first period — then shot 56 percent and racked up 59 points the rest of the way. The Bobcats drilled nine triples, including five by Thomas, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds last month in a victory over the Dodgers.

“I thought Brycen (Bell) and James (Daniel) gave us good minutes,” Daniel said. “(Sophomore Drake) Callon came in at the end and did a nice job. That’s what we need more of; guys who are willing to do the little things, embrace their roles and work together as a team. Because individual basketball is not going to work. Not here or anywhere else.”

Fort Dodge returns to action on Monday at home against Mason City (4-8, 1-5) in a make-up affair.

MARSHALLTOWN 61, FORT DODGE 40

Marshalltown — Justin Melde 3-7 0-1 8, Drake Kapayou 2-6 1-2 7, Will Van Buren 1-3 1-2 3, Aiden DeVolder 1-3 1-2 3, Austin Shomo 0-3 0-0 0, Armonniey Thomas 11-21 7-7 34, Trevor Stamp 1-3 0-0 2, Isaiah Borgos 1-1 0-0 2, Dwight Joar 1-1 0-0 2, Sean Nyuon 0-0 0-0 0, Drake Polley 0-1 0-0 0, Grant Greazel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-49 10-14 61.

Fort Dodge — Tysen Kershaw 3-5 7-8 13, Dayson Clayton 1-5 4-5 6, Monterius Altman-Abrams 1-2 2-2 5, Asle Thorson 2-3 0-0 4, Averey Martin 0-2 1-2 1, Nolan Daniel 1-1 1-2 4, Jaheim Clayton 1-4 1-1 3, Brycen Bell 0-1 2-2 2, Drake Callon 0-0 2-4 2, Sam Daniel 0-1 0-0 0, Carson Peterson 0-0 0-1 0, James Daniel 0-1 0-0 0, D’Arien Calahan 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 9-27 20-27 40.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 5-2; Marshalltown led 24-18, 42-27. Three-point goals: Marshalltown 9-23 (Thomas 5-9, Kapayou 2-5, Melde 2-4, Shomo 0-3, DeVolder 0-1, Polley 0-1); Fort Dodge 2-8 (Altman-Abrams 1-2, N. Daniel 1-1, D. Clayton 0-2, Thorson 0-1, Calahan 0-1, S. Daniel 0-1). Turnovers: Marshalltown 4, Fort Dodge 16. Total fouls: Marshalltown 19, Fort Dodge 15. Technical foul: J. Clayton. Fouled out: Kershaw.

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