Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Corey Dettmann of Humboldt drives past Fort Dodge's Ty Adams on Thursday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge boys want to build a basketball program predicated on defense.

The Dodgers weren’t nearly disruptive enough on that end of the court Thursday, as Humboldt dominated start to finish in a 74-53 victory.

Normally known for their three-point shooting prowess, the Wildcats (4-1 overall) instead attacked the basket relentlessly against Fort Dodge (0-6) — especially in the first half. Humboldt made 16 of its 25 two-point attempts — a 64-percent clip — in taking a 40-24 lead into the intermission.

“We have to give better effort and intensity on the defensive end. Have to,” Dodger head coach Willie Williams said. “This is a group that normally plays hard and tries to get stops. But it wasn’t there (last night). Give credit Humboldt. I think that was the big (takeaway): they were the tougher, more competitive team. We don’t have the margin for error defensively to have as many lapses as we did, especially in that first half.”

Coen Matson ignited the early surge. With Fort Dodge doing a decent job slowing down top Wildcat scorers Evan Hatcher and Elliot Carlson, Humboldt’s junior guard put his head down and drove to the hoop almost at will.

Matson finished the first half with 13 of his team-high 17 points, missing only one field-goal try. Fellow guard Corey Dettmann was effective as well, adding nine of his 11 before the break.

“The boys did a nice job,” HHS head coach Jason Thurm said. “This is a busy week for us, with big conference games Tuesday (a 77-60 road win at Algona) and Friday (versus 3-1 Hampton-Dumont/CAL). We came down here against a good 4A program in Fort Dodge and were locked in from the start.

“We anticipated seeing a zone, so when they came out in man, we were a little surprised. We don’t really have a post-up game, so our goal is to get the guards into the paint and drive downhill. (The opportunity to do so) was there for us, and we took advantage of it — especially in the first half.”

The Dodgers were better offensively inside the perimeter — making 18 of their 38 shots — but misfired on 14 of their 15 three-point tries.

“They left us open and were basically baiting us to shoot more threes than we’re used to taking,” Williams said. “We have to do a better job of being aware of (the opposition’s gameplan) and making the necessary adjustments. Just because you’re open, doesn’t mean it’s a good shot to take. We have to know the difference.

“We kept Hatcher and Carlson in check for the most part, but didn’t get the job done defensively at all against their other guys. Again, that’s a credit to them.”

Fort Dodge trailed only 23-17 early in the second quarter, but a 10-0 Humboldt run got the visitors rolling. Matson had a pair of traditional three-point plays during the surge.

A Dettmann hoop and free throw gave the Wildcats their biggest lead of the half at 40-22.

Humboldt didn’t just use its size and strength, but depth to its advantage. The Wildcats got 19 points from their bench — spearheaded by 10 from 6-foot-6 senior center Nolan Gustafson and a pair of triples by 6-2 junior Jackson Dodd — compared to just two points by Dodger reserves.

The closest Fort Dodge got in the second half was within 48-34 on a bucket by junior Cade Westerhoff, who led the home squad with 17 points. Classmate Drake Warland added 16 for FDSH, with senior Ty Adams contributing 10 and sophomore guard Tytrell Mosley eight.

Hatcher had 13 for Humboldt — well below his early-season 26.3-point average.

Before Thursday, 48 percent of the Wildcats’ field goal attempts on the year had come from behind the arc. Against the Dodgers, only 16 of their 59 looks were from distance.

Fort Dodge heads to the Roundhouse to face Marshalltown on Friday at 7:45 p.m.

HUMBOLDT 74, FORT DODGE 53

Humboldt — Coen Matson 5-7 6-6 17, Evan Hatcher 5-14 2-2 13, Corey Dettmann 5-11 1-1 11, Mason Van Pelt 3-5 1-2 8, Elliot Carlson 3-6 0-1 6, Nolan Gustafson 5-6 0-2 10, Jackson Dodd 2-3 0-0 6, Carson Sleiter 1-3 0-0 2, Peyton Van Pelt 0-1 1-2 1, Riley Sorensen 0-0 0-0 0, Cam’Ron Roberson 0-2 0-0 0, Isaiah Busick 0-1 0-0 0, Caeden Frideres 0-0 0-0 0, Parker Sleiter 0-0 0-0 0, Carson Arndt 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 29-59 11-16 74.

Fort Dodge — Cade Westerhoff 6-15 5-8 17, Drake Warland 7-16 2-3 16, Ty Adams 3-7 4-6 10, Tytrell Mosley 3-5 1-1 8, Carter Woodruff 0-4 0-0 0, Hayden Zuspann 0-5 2-4 2, Kauner Jensen 0-0 0-0 0, Gavin Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Carter Morris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-53 14-22 53.

Quarter scores: Humboldt led 21-12, 40-24, 61-39. Three-point goals: Humboldt 5-16 (Dodd 2-2, Hatcher 1-3, Matson 1-2, Van Pelt 1-1, Dettmann 0-2, Carlson 0-2, Sleiter 0-1, P. Van Pelt 0-1, Roberson 0-1, Busick 0-1). Turnovers: Humboldt 15, Fort Dodge 14. Total fouls: Humboldt 19, Fort Dodge 16. Fouled out: Woodruff, Westerhoff.