Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Tytrell Mosley of Fort Dodge shoots in around Sioux City West defenders on Friday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The sputtering offense of the Fort Dodge boys basketball team finally saw a glimmer of hope on Friday against Sioux City West.

The Dodger defense, though, gave up a season-high for points as the Wolverines made a living at the free-throw line on their way to a 78-58 victory.

Standout players Roman Henry and Eduardo Frazier had a field day at the foul stripe for West (6-3 overall). Henry, a 6-foot-5 freshman sensation and move-in from the Houston area, scored 28 points — three more than his stellar season average. Frazier, a senior, added 23 — again, slightly above his per-game output to date.

The duo was a combined 26 of 40 at the charity stripe.

“They just kept getting downhill on us and we weren’t able to slow them down,” FDSH head coach Willie Williams said. “We didn’t do a very good job of adjusting to how the game was being called, and to their credit, they’re a handful once they get close to the basket.

“We had another slow start (trailing 25-10 after the first quarter), which has really been putting us in a bad spot trying to play catch up. We had a few times where we needed to get a stop and (trim the deficit), but we weren’t able to turn a corner.”

There were 73 free throws attempted total and 53 fouls in the contest, including 32 whistled against the Dodgers. Frazier went to the line 12 times in the first half, and all 18 of his tries were in the opening three quarters. Henry had 19 shots from the charity stripe in the second and third quarters combined.

West was 32 of 48 as a team 24 hours after attempting only five free throws in a loss to Sioux City Heelan.

Sophomore Reggie Pederson had a career-high 25 points for Fort Dodge (1-9), including 12 in the third period and 18 total in the second half. Senior Hayden Zuspann (14 points) and sophomore Brody Maehl (11) also reached double figures for the Dodgers, who came in averaging less than 40 points per contest and cleared 50 for the first time all season.

“We have guys capable of scoring, so it was a positive to get the offense going,” Williams said. “We fought and played hard, but we weren’t consistent enough moving our feet on defense or rebounding the ball.

“With (20 turnovers), we also keep beating ourselves. We give these (opponents) extra or extended possessions, and at the 4A level, they’ll make you pay.”

Henry was recently named the Sports Illustrated National Player of the Week. Fort Dodge contained him, relatively speaking, from the floor, as he made only six of 15 field-goal tries. Benefiting from a liberal whistle, Henry instead switched to taking the ball to the hoop at will and getting repeated calls in his favor.

Frazier employed a similar strategy.

“They’re tough and talented,” Williams said of the West pair. “We matched their energy at times, but not enough. And I’m not going to make excuses (about the free-throw shooting)…it is what it is and we didn’t figure that out the way we needed to as it was going. Plus, we missed nine (foul shots) ourselves in the first half alone — that can’t happen.”

The Dodgers are back in action on Saturday at Ankeny Centennial. The varsity boys are slated for a 5 p.m. start.

SIOUX CITY WEST 78, FORT DODGE 58

Sioux City West — Roman Henry 6-15 14-22 27, Eduardo Frazier 5-8 12-18 23, Kamren Hegna 5-14 5-6 17, Tavin Irvine 2-5 0-0 4, Dominic Merrigan 0-1 0-0 0, Anthony Grant 2-2 0-0 4, Andy Lam 1-5 0-0 2, Colin Grom 0-1 1-2 1, Kash Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Nolen Hardgraves 0-0 0-0 0, Colin Frazee 0-1 0-0 0, Day’Juon Staten 0-0 0-0 0, Joseph Chicoine 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-54 32-48 78.

Fort Dodge — Reggie Pederson 8-13 9-10 25, Hayden Zuspann 4-12 3-4 14, Brody Maehl 5-8 1-3 11, Tytrell Mosley 0-2 0-4 0, Teddy Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Tisyn Hook 1-2 1-2 3, Gavin Davis 1-5 0-0 2, Karter Hemrick 1-6 0-0 2, Taevon Feeley 0-2 1-2 1, Kauner Jensen 0-0 0-0 0, Kyree Rochon 0-1 0-0 0, Carter Morris 0-0 0-0 0, Javion Soppeland 0-0 0-0 0, Joseph Petersen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-52 15-25 58.

Quarter scores: West led 25-10, 42-25, 66-42. Three-point goals: West 4-25 (Hegna 2-10, Henry 1-5, Frazier 1-2, Irvine 0-2, Lam 0-3, Olson 0-2, Grant 0-1); Fort Dodge 3-14 (Zuspann 3-8, Davis 0-3, Hemrick 0-3). Turnovers: West 17, Fort Dodge 20. Total fouls: West 21, Fort Dodge 32. Fouled out: Mosley, Jensen.