Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Malay Hollins of Fort Dodge goes up for a reverse layup against Humboldt on Monday at the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

A decisive edge in rebounding and some key late free throws by LJ Maehl helped the Fort Dodge girls to a 44-37 victory over Humboldt here Monday night.

The Dodgers (2-3 overall) earned their second win inside the FDSH gym, controlling the glass with a plus-22 edge. Maehl, who continues to climb closer and closer to the school’s career scoring record, had a game-high 23 points with 14 of those rebounds.

Maehl moved over the 500-rebound mark for her career in the process.

“We asked a lot out of LJ and she delivered,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “We put the ball in her hands late, and even though she was exhausted, she was able to help us seal the win.

“Honestly, I thought we got a lot of really good minutes from a number of people.”

Malay Hollins added nine points and four rebounds, Brooklyn Gilliland, a 5-foot-6 freshman guard, grabbed eight rebounds with three steals, and Bella Lee had five points and nine rebounds off the bench.

For the Wildcats (1-2), Ava Fischer scored 16 with four steals and Landry Lash had nine with five steals.

“That’s a pretty good team in Humboldt,” Messerly said. “The Fischer girl can shoot and she really extends your defense. I thought we did a good job closing out and forcing contested shots.”

Fort Dodge used a strong opening half by Maehl to take control, as the senior scored 13 in the first 16 minutes. The Dodgers led by as many as 11 on one of the three first half triples she made.

The Wildcats, though, would not be denied, as Fischer came out in the third and scored eight with a pair of triples while Payton Elman knocked down another shot from deep to make it a four-point game going to the fourth.

Humboldt would get it down to as little as three, but a key Hollins bucket with just over five to go helped Fort Dodge regain momentum.

“Malay did a nice job of driving,” Messerly said. “Bella really came out and played one of her best games, and Linnie (Pratt) did a tremendous job on the glass.”

Maehl made 5 of 7 from the free throw line over the final eight minutes, as she scored 10 in the fourth alone.

Pratt had six rebounds to go along with three points, as Grace Nichols added five rebounds and four points.

The Dodgers head to Des Moines to face Lincoln on Tuesday while Humboldt hosts third-ranked (Class 1A) Newell-Fonda.

FORT DODGE 44, HUMBOLDT 37

Fort Dodge — Brooklyn Gilliland 1 0-2 2, Malay Hollins 4 1-2 9, LJ Maehl 6 8-12 23, Ellie Doster 1 0-0 2, Grace Nichols 2 0-0 4, Bella Lee 1 2-7 5, Linnie Pratt 1 1-2 3, Macy Wills 0 0-0 0, Charlotte Breeser 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 12-25 44.

Humboldt — Payton Elman 1 1-2 4, Kate Sievers 0 0-2 0, Landry Lash 3 1-7 9, Ava Fischer 5 2-4 16, Jada VandeWalle 1 2-2 4, Kiera Anderson 0 0-0 0, Abby Armitage 0 0-0 0, Brayleigh Ansgstrom 0 1-2 1, Kaleigh Vinsand 1 0-1 2. Totals: 12 7-19 37.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 12-9, 24-13, 33-29. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 4 (Maehl 3, Lee 1), Humboldt 5 (Fischer 4, Elman 1). Total rebounds: Fort Dodge 53, Humboldt 21. Steals: Fort Dodge 5, Humboldt 13. Blocked shots: Fort Dodge 2, Humboldt 3. Turnovers: Fort Dodge 25, Humboldt 11. Team fouls: Fort Dodge 21, Humboldt 20. Fouled out: Lash.