Following a short break, the Fort Dodge basketball teams return to the court with back-to-back home doubleheaders to close the week.

Up first is a twinbill with Storm Lake here on Thursday night, followed by a visit from Des Moines North inside the FDSH gym Friday.

Both varsity girls games begin at 6:15 p.m., with the boys to follow.

The Dodger girls (6-12 overall) have gone 4-6 over their last 10 games, dropping the last three. All-time leading scorer LJ Maehl is averaging a double-double at 15.5 points and 10 rebounds, with freshman Brooklyn Gilliland adding eight points a night.

Sophomore Malay Hollins is averaging five points and almost five rebounds. Classmate Grace Nichols adds over five rebounds per game.

Storm Lake (7-9) is 3-1 in its four most recent meetings with Fort Dodge. The Tornadoes have taken each of the last three matchup, including a 54-39 victory last year in the postseason after a 58-32 regular-season victory just 13 days prior.

Senior Avery DeHaan is the leading scorer for SLHS at 16 points per game. Classmate Grace Kenkel averages 10 rebounds.

The Des Moines North girls (1-13) have failed to score in double figures in two of its last four games, including an 89-9 loss to Ottumwa. The Polar Bears have lost two straight to Fort Dodge and 15 of 19 overall since 2006.

Willie Williams and the Dodger boys (2-15) got in the win column last week with a 43-42 decision over Marshalltown before falling to Mason City and sixth-ranked (Class 4A) Ames.

Sophomore Reggie Pederson is averaging 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game to lead the way. Senior Hayden Zuspann adds 7.5 points, and sophomore Brody Maehl almost seven.

The top-ranked (3A) Storm Lake boys (13-2) lost to No. 1 (2A) Carroll Kuemper this past Monday. The Tornadoes are powered by Creighton commit Jaidyn Coon, as the senior is averaging 24 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Coon led Storm Lake to the state tournament last winter. He is flanked by classmate Cameron Boyd, who contributes 18 points a night, and junior Timothy Yanga, who is chipping in 10.5.

The Des Moines North boys (4-10) have lost four in a row. Junior T’Angello Bush is averaging 21 points per game, with JJ Seay, Jr. adding almost 17.