×

FINDING A GROOVE

Pommer scores a career-high 24 for FD girls in victory

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Aleaha Pommer of Fort Dodge shoots around Urbandale Macy Gaskill on Tuesday inside Dodger gym

The Fort Dodge girls were clicking on all cylinders from the very beginning of their 60-52 victory over Urbandale on Senior Night here Tuesday.

The Dodgers (3-7 overall) snapped a four-game losing streak with authority, leading by as many as 29 points in the first half and by 24 through the first three quarters. The J-Hawks (1-4) mounted a huge comeback in the final period — spearheaded by a 14-0 run to open the frame — but FDSH hung on to defeat Urbandale for the first time in over four years.

Junior Aleaha Pommer was the driving force. Pommer had 21 of her career-high 24 points in the first half for the Dodgers, who led 23-3 at the end of the opening period and 44-17 by the intermission.

“It was great to get the ball rolling in the right direction early,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “We’ve had a lot of slow starts and had to fight from behind, which is never easy. We were the aggressor and took it right to them, and for that first half and even into the third quarter, it was about as well as we’ve played.

“It was good to get Aleaha going, too. She was confident and found her shot early.”

Pommer had a basket and a three-pointer right out of the gate. A Jalen Adams triple made it 8-0 and forced Urbandale into a timeout just 1:15 into the first quarter.

The Dodgers were relentless for the rest of the half, and a Cheyenne Miller-Hameed three-pointer extended the advantage to 37-8.

Pommer recorded 19 of Fort Dodge’s first 29 points.

The Dodgers still held a comfortable 51-27 edge before the J-Hawks started to rally. The visitors were within 56-49 during the waning moments, but ran out of steam and time.

“We’re not used to playing with that kind of lead, and Urbandale’s not a bad ballclub by any means,” Messerly said. “We knew they’d make a run, but I think to our credit, we held it off until (the last period).

“Consistency is still something we’re working on, both physically and mentally. We weren’t able to sustain our energy and focus there late. But it was a great win and I’m very proud of them.”

Miller-Hameed and Tristin Doster were honored as the program’s lone seniors. Doster led the way in rebounding on Tuesday with 12.

Adams and Tory Bennett followed Pommer with nine points each for Fort Dodge.

The Dodgers return to action on Friday at home versus Ankeny (5-3).

FORT DODGE 60, URBANDALE 52

Fort Dodge — Aleaha Pommer 7 7-10 24, Jalen Adams 3 1-2 9, Tory Bennett 2 5-7 9, Lainey Maehl 2 0-0 5, Ellie White 1 2-4 4, Haley Wills 0 3-5 3, Cheyenne Miller-Hameed 1 0-0 3, Tristin Doster 1 1-2 3, Paytene Hiveley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 20-28 60.

Urbandale — Kelsey Heller 5 2-5 12, Meredith Umland 4 2-3 11, Macy Gaskill 3 1-4 8, Loraine Koua 2 2-2 8, MyKenna Cole 2 0-2 5, Josie Birdwell 1 2-5 4, Payton Oetting 1 0-0 3, Taylor Mulligan 0 1-2 1. Totals: 18 10-23 52.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 23-3, 44-17, 51-27. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 6 (Pommer 3, Maehl, Adams, Miller-Hameed); Urbandale 6 (Koua 2, Umland, Cole, Getting, Gaskill). Total fouls: Fort Dodge 23, Urbandale 21. Fouled out: Heller.

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