MASON CITY — Things went from bad to worse for the Fort Dodge boys basketball team over the course of Tuesday night’s game at Mason City.

The Dodgers fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and the Riverhawks never let up, scoring a 73-20 victory.

Mason City (2-3 overall, 1-1 in the IAC North) went up 21-10 after the opening eight minutes, then delivered a 26-1 knockout punch in the second period as the Dodgers (1-5, 0-2) struggled with turnovers again and to solve the Riverhawks’ zone defense.

Sophomore Reggie Pederson had all six of his points in the first half for FDSH. The Dodgers made only one three-point basket, after missing all of their attempts last Friday against Waterloo East.

Senior veteran Marcele Whitner scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the opening two quarters of action. Whitner, a three-year regular for Mason City, is now averaging nearly 20 points per contest so far this year.

Fellow senior Drayden Witt added 10 for the Riverhawks — again, all in the first half.

The Dodgers return to action on Friday at Marshalltown. A make-up contest at Des Moines Lincoln on Monday closes the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule.