CARLISLE — Junior Jalen Adams made a driving layup on a fast break with nine seconds left in regulation, and that proved to be the game winner as the Fort Dodge girls basketball team held off Carlisle on Tuesday night, 39-37.

The short-handed Dodgers (2-3 overall) struggled to find their rhythm offensively, but a 9-0 run to end the third period erased an eight-point deficit and head coach Scott Messerly’s squad held on the rest of the way.

“It was a tough game,” Messerly said. “We went to a 1-2-1-1 press in the second half, which got us going and helped us come back. We didn’t have (second-leading scorer) Aleaha (Pommer, who was out sick), so other girls had to step up.

“Jalen and Ellie White were big for us, especially in the press and with their half-court defense. And Tristin (Doster) came up big again both scoring-wise and on the boards.”

Doster finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Adams and senior Cheyenne Miller-Hameed both added seven points, with sophomore Paytene Hiveley contributing six.

The Wilcats (1-5) were down five in the last minute, but rallied and eventually tied the score before Adams’ basket on a breakaway. Carlisle had a chance to tie and force overtime, but a layup attempt in the closing seconds rimmed in and out.

The Wildcats led at halftime, 23-19, and by as many as eight points at 30-22 before the Dodgers started to come back.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Jan. 5 at home against Ames.

FORT DODGE 39, CARLISLE 37

Fort Dodge — Tristin Doster 12, Cheyenne Miller-Hameed 7, Jalen Adams 7, Paytene Hiveley 6, Tory Bennett 5, Ellie White 2, Lainey Maehl 0, Haley Wills 0.

Carlisle — Katiey Keeney 13, Emma Pitts 8, Amelia Sinclair 5, Sage Austin 5, Sydney Berg 3, Caylin Furnal 3.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led, 12-9; Carlisle led, 23-19; Fort Dodge led, 31-30.