WATERLOO — The Fort Dodge girls never did get into a rhythm on Friday, as Waterloo East used a late push to prevail by a final of 56-54.

The Dodgers (10-6 overall) led by seven points early in the fourth quarter, and junior Mackenzie McIlrath’s three-point basket put the visitors up 54-50 with 80 seconds left.

The Trojans (6-12) scored the game’s final six points, though, prevailing after taking their first lead of the second half in the last minute of regulation.

“It was one of those nights,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “We got into a ton of foul trouble early on, and even when we put some runs together and finally got going, they always answered. They drove on us a lot, and we weren’t getting stops. We were reaching too much and playing defense with our hands instead of our feet.

“We missed too many free throws and turned the ball over too many times to win on the road. The girls are frustrated, because we feel like we let one slip away.”

Lainey Maehl had 18 points for the Dodgers, with McIlrath adding a career-high 16. It was 47-40 in favor of Fort Dodge with 6:30 remaining, but Messerly’s squad only managed seven points the rest of the way.

East led 12-7 at the end of the first period, but the Dodgers scored the final five points of the first half to go up 27-25 at intermission.

Fort Dodge was whistled for 12 fouls in the first quarter alone, and for 29 in the contest. Meah McCaleb and LJ Maehl both fouled out.

The Trojans attempted 31 free throws, though they converted only 11.

“There were a lot of touch fouls called, but we have to adjust to that when it happens (early on),” Messerly said. “I thought Brooklyn Pommer and Ashlyn Wills played well and gave us really productive minutes off the bench. Morgan (Bodholdt) did a nice job when she was out there. Lainey and Kenzie hit some big shots, but I know there were some they’d like to have back.

“We had to turn to our bench pretty quickly, but we were able to stem the tide. We needed to take better advantage of our size, but East was driving to the basket and we were getting called for fouls almost every time. It was a big night for them…senior night in a loud, packed gym. It was good to be in this kind of tense atmosphere. We just weren’t able to get over the hump.”

The Dodgers return to action on Monday at home against Urbandale. Tip is set for 6:15 p.m. in the FDSH gym.

WATERLOO EAST 56, FORT DODGE 54

Waterloo East — Siyanna Cody 3 6-6 12, Ja’Dajh Latiker 4 0-2 10, Ruthie Hulton 3 1-2 10, Graysyn Downing 3 0-0 8, Jaelah Stanford 2 3-10 7, Nyla Norman 2 0-0 4, Ja’Miah Caeser 2 1-11 5. Totals: 19 11-31 56.

Fort Dodge — Lainey Maehl 18, Mackenzie McIlrath 16, Paytene Hiveley 6, Ashlyn Wills 6, Brooklyn Pommer 4, Meah McCaleb 4, Madison Bodholdt 0, LJ Maehl 0. Totals: 20 11-23 54.

Quarter scores: East led 12-7; Fort Dodge led 27-25, 43-40. Total fouls: Fort Dodge 29, East 22. Three-point goals: East 7 (Hulton 3, Downing 2, Latiker 2); Fort Dodge 3 (McIlrath 3). Fouled out: McCaleb, LJ Maehl, Stanford.