Basketball is funny. You wait all week for a game, and then in the first five minutes, your team is down 5-0 and the gym feels like it’s sucking the air out of the room. That’s exactly what happened Friday night in Des Moines. The Fort Dodge Dodgers walked into the Hoover gym and immediately found themselves staring at a deficit.
But then? They woke up.
If you’re looking for the score of the dodger game from this weekend, the number you need is 54-43. The Fort Dodge girls didn't just win; they secured their first real win streak of the season by taking down Des Moines Hoover.
Honestly, the 18-2 run they put together right after that slow start was some of the most disciplined basketball I’ve seen from this group. They basically locked the door on Hoover and didn't let them back in for two full quarters.
Breaking Down the Dodgers Score and That Explosive Run
Coach Scott Messerly has to be feeling good about this one. After a massive 56-11 win over Des Moines East earlier in the week, there’s always that fear of a "trap game." You play a blowout, you get cocky, and then you trip over your own feet against a team like Hoover.
Instead, the Dodgers showed up.
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By halftime, the scoreboard looked like a dream for Fort Dodge fans: 31-15.
The real story behind the score of the dodger game wasn't just the defense, though. It was the perimeter shooting. This is a team that had only made 19 three-pointers in their previous 12 games combined. On Friday night? They hit nine triples. That is a statistical anomaly that changes the entire geometry of the court. When Brooklyn Gilliland and LJ Maehl are both hitting from deep, it’s a nightmare to guard.
The Return of Brooklyn Gilliland
It’s hard to talk about the final score without mentioning Gilliland. She’s been out. Concussion protocol is a slow, frustrating process for any athlete, but sitting through two and a half games clearly gave her some perspective—or maybe just a lot of pent-up energy.
She dropped 24 points.
She also grabbed eight rebounds. It wasn't just the volume of the scoring; it was the timing. Every time Hoover tried to make a little run in the third quarter—cutting the lead down after the Dodgers had stretched it to 40-21—Gilliland seemed to find the bottom of the net.
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LJ Maehl: The Record-Breaker
While everyone was watching the comeback attempts, LJ Maehl was busy making history. She became the program's all-time career scoring leader for 5-on-5 basketball. That’s a massive deal. She finished the night with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Think about that for a second. Between Gilliland and Maehl, you have 42 of the team's 54 points. That’s a heavy-lifting duo.
Why the Score of the Dodger Game Changes the Season Outlook
Fort Dodge is now 5-8. On paper, that doesn't scream "state championship contender," but you have to look at the trajectory. They've won three of their last four games. They are finally healthy.
The Huskies of Des Moines Hoover (now 3-10) didn't go quietly. Chere Ambers put up 16 points and Jenesis Brooks-Hayes added 10. They actually managed to make things slightly uncomfortable in the fourth quarter, but the Dodgers' early lead was just too much of a mountain to climb.
Key Stats from the Victory
- Final Score: Fort Dodge 54, Des Moines Hoover 43
- Three-Pointers: 9 (A season-high)
- Top Scorer: Brooklyn Gilliland (24 pts)
- Double-Double: LJ Maehl (18 pts, 13 reb)
What’s Next for Fort Dodge?
They don’t get much time to celebrate. The schedule is relentless. The team is heading to Waterloo East on Tuesday. This is a bit of a revenge game because the Trojans already beat the Dodgers 61-39 earlier this year.
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But that was a different team. That was a team without a healthy Gilliland and without the confidence of a nine-three-pointer night.
The biggest challenge moving forward is going to be the bench depth. Outside of the big two, the scoring was a bit thin. Linnie Pratt, Malay Hollins, Bella Lee, and Addison Lentsch all chipped in three points each. To beat the top-tier teams in the state, they’re going to need one of those players to consistently hit double digits.
If you’re following the score of the dodger game and looking for actionable ways to support the team or stay updated, here’s the play:
- Watch the Perimeter: Keep an eye on the three-point percentage. If they keep shooting above 30%, they can beat anyone in the conference.
- Health Watch: Ensure the rotation stays deep enough to keep Maehl and Gilliland fresh for the fourth quarter.
- Road Warrior Mentality: Tuesday at Waterloo East is the fourth straight road game. Fatigue is real.
The momentum is there. The record is starting to reflect the talent. Now, they just have to keep the floor spaced and the defense tight.