ALGONA — The 10th-ranked (Class 3A) Algona girls used their size and experience to claim a 56-30 victory over Fort Dodge here Monday night.

Hayden Kuhlmann led a balanced effort for the Bulldogs (8-3 overall) with 17 points, as Casey VanOtterloo added 11 and Lauren McLaughlin finished with nine.

For the Dodgers (4-7), LJ Maehl had 14 and Meah McCaleb chipped in 10.

“I thought we did a nice job on defense,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “Algona does a lot of really good things on offense but I was proud of the effort we had.

“They have a lot of girls that have played a lot of basketball and that shows.”

Following a 14-14 draw after the first quarter, the Bulldogs outscored the Dodgers before the half, 13-5. They continued to apply pressure in the third, boosting the lead to 14.

“We just couldn’t find the bottom of the net,” Messerly said. “We were even struggling at the free throw line. I thought Meah did a solid job. (Algona) really put the clamps down on LJ and her in the second half.”

Fort Dodge returns to action for game two of a four-game week on Tuesday when they travel to Des Moines East.

ALGONA 56, FORT DODGE 30

Fort Dodge — LJ Maehl 14, Meah McCaleb 10, Brooklyn Pommer 3, Dakota Pommer 2, Malay Hollins 1.

Algona — Hayden Kuhlmann 17, Casey VanOtterloo 11, Lauren McLaughlin 9, Bella Jo Dunning 7, Taylor VanOtterloo 5, Hayden McLaughlin 4, Maya Lentz 3.

Quarter scores: Tied 14-14; Algona led 27-19, 42-28.