The Fort Dodge boys basketball team didn’t come away with a win on Thursday night, but head coach Willie Williams was proud of his team’s effort.

The Dodgers (2-14 overall) went toe-to-toe with Mason City for the entire first half before the Riverhawks (7-9) pulled away for a 68-54 victory.

Fort Dodge was coming off a spirited 43-42 victory over Marshalltown on Tuesday in the Dodger gym, and carried that momentum over into the first half.

In the first meeting between the rivals last month, the Dodgers suffered a lopsided 73-20 setback.

Last night, Fort Dodge hit a three-pointer to end the second quarter and pull within 36-34 heading into the locker room.

“We had great energy in the first half especially. Our guys have been competing,” Williams said. “We lost this game and Mason City out-played us, but it definitely wasn’t because of lack of effort.”

The Dodgers began to fade in the third period. Mason City scored the first 11 points of the frame for a 13-point edge, and the Dodgers did hit the scoring column until 1:43 was left in the frame.

Fort Dodge did trim into the deficit after sophomore post player Brody Maehl opened the fourth stanza with five points, including a three-point play to pull the home squad within 49-42.

“These guys are still tight and are working together as a team,” Williams said. “We may not have a winning record, but they’re fighting.”

The Dodgers wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the contest, as Mason City closed on a 19-12 run the rest of the way.

The Riverhawks did damage both inside and out and at the line. Each squad hit 20 field goals, but Mason City was an impressive 23-for-26 at the foul line. Fort Dodge was just 7-for-9.

Four Riverhawks reached double digits, led by Marcele Whitner’s 23 points. Whitner was 6-for-11 from the field and 9 of 11 from the line.

Fellow guard Jameer Falls had a 17 point performance. He was 7-for-8 from the charity stripe.

Ty Sanchez-Evans converted a perfect five field goal tries and didn’t miss in four attempts at the line, adding 14 points.

Sophomore Reggie Pederson led the Dodgers with 16 points. Pederson was 5-for-13 from the field and 5 of 6 at the line.

Senior Hayden Zuspann added 12 points, hitting four three-pointers. Maehl finished with seven and Teddy Johnson had seven off the bench on 3-of-4 shooting.

The Dodgers are back in action on Friday when they travel to take on sixth-ranked (Class 4A) Ames. Varsity boys tip is slated for 7:45 p.m.

MASON CITY 68, FORT DODGE 54

Fort Dodge — Taevon Feeley 2-3 0-0 4, Hayden Zuspann 4-14 0-0 12, Tytrell Mosley 2-8 0-0 5, Reggie Pederson 5-13 5-6 16, Brody Maehl 3-6 1-2 7, Tisyn Hook 0-0 0-0 0, Gavin Davis 1-3 0-0 3, Teddy Johnson 3-4 1-1 7, Javion Soppeland 0-0 0-0 0, Carter Morris 0-0 0-0 0, Karter Hemrick 0-0 0-0 0, Kyree Rochon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-54 7-9 54.

Mason City — Jameer Falls 4-11 7-8 17, Marcele Whitner 6-11 9-11 23, Owen Rickers 4-11 2-2 11, Drayden Witt 1-2 1-1 3, Ty Sanchez-Evans 5-5 4-4 14, Dane Hanson 0-1 0-0 0, Nathan Berkley 0-3 0-0 0, Tyce Washington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-44 23-26 68.

Quarter scores: Mason City led 24-19, 36-34, 47-37. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge, 7-23 (Zuspann 4-14, Mosley 1-4, Pederson 1-2, Davis 1-2, Kyree Rochon 0-1); Marshalltown 5-17 (Falls 2-4, Whitner 2-4, Rickers 1-5, Hanson 0-1, Berkeley 0-3). Total fouls: Fort Dodge 20, Mason City 9; Total turnovers: Fort Dodge 11, Mason City 6.