Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Hunter Horn of Fort Dodge shoots against Sioux City West on Friday night in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

As the regular season winds down, Fort Dodge boys basketball coach Willie Williams is searching for answers.

Williams didn’t find many here on Friday night, as the Dodgers fell to Sioux City West, 67-33.

The Wolverines (10-10 overall) used a 19-0 third quarter to reach the .500 mark and win their fourth consecutive game. Lamarion Mothershead scored a game-high 23 points and Keavian Hayes added 22.

For the Dodgers, Javion Jondle had 13 points and Cade Westerhoff seven.

“We’ve just got to find our rhythm again,” Williams said. “We’ve been stuck in this pattern of shots not falling and losing our confidence on the court — especially in the second half.

“We’ve got to continue to compete and continue to work.”

Fort Dodge used two quick buckets by Jondle and Westerhoff to jump out to a 4-0 lead, but Sioux City West erased that deficit with a 9-0 run. A Westerhoff 3-pointer later in the first made it 11-9 in favor of the Wolverines, but the Dodgers would get no closer.

With Mothershead — West’s leading scorer this year — on the sidelines due to foul trouble, Hayes and Gavin Koons took over. Hayes scored 11 in the opening eight minutes and Koons had all seven of his points during an extended 21-5 run.

“Once they went to a zone, we couldn’t knock a shot down,” Williams said. “We’d get open looks and they just wouldn’t fall.

“We’ve got to keep shooting, though. We have kids that are capable of making those shots.”

Mothershead returned in the second and scored 10 before adding 13 in the third as the Wolverines put the game out of reach.

Hayes had six rebounds and three steals, with Mothershead adding five rebounds.

Jay Grause chipped in seven points, three boards and three steals off the bench for Sioux City West.

For the Dodgers, Hunter Horn had four points and Drake Warland three with Ti’Juan Isom adding two.

“I thought Ti’Juan gave us some good minutes,” Williams said. “So did Hunter off the bench. And Javion did what we’ve come to expect.”

Jondle is now at 620 points for his career, which is 14 away from joining the program’s Top-20 list all-time.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Tuesday when they host Des Moines North.

SIOUX CITY WEST 67, FORT DODGE 33

Fort Dodge — Cade Westerhoff 1 4-4 7, Carter Westerhoff 1 0-0 2, Ty Adams 0 0-0 0, Kyron Wilson 1 0-0 2, Javion Jondle 5 3-8 13, Ryan Daniel 0 0-0 0, Drake Warland 1 1-1 3, Hunter Horn 2 0-0 4, Tytrell Mosley 0 0-0 0, Ti’Juan Isom 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 8-13 33.

Sioux City West — Gavin Koons 3 0-0 7, Keavian Hayes 9 3-3 22, Robert Johnson 2 0-1 4, Terrance Topete 0 0-0 0, Lamarion Mothershead 9 2-3 23, Jay Grause 2 2-2 7, Michael Benson 0 0-0 0, Shamar Harrell 2 0-0 4, Collin Abelson 0 0-0 0, Cameron Keleher 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 7-9 67.

Quarter scores: Sioux City West led 18-9, 44-23, 63-23. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 1 (Westerhoff 1), Sioux City West 6 (Mothershead 3, Koons 1, Hayes 1, Grouse 1). Total rebounds: Fort Dodge 20, Sioux City West 28. Steals: Fort Dodge 5, Sioux City West 9. Turnovers: Fort Dodge 13, Sioux City West 14. Team fouls: Fort Dodge 12, Sioux City West 13.