Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Meah McCaleb scores for Fort Dodge against Spencer on Friday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge girls struggled to find their shot across the board on Friday night, and it cost them a chance to rally at the end.

Even with the ball not finding the basket, the Dodgers (1-2 overall) had a shot to tip Spencer.

Fort Dodge trailed 44-41 and held the ball with 4.4 seconds remaining at half court. The Dodgers worked the ball up, but couldn’t get a shot off and fell by that final three-point margin.

The Dodgers were only 15-for-53 as a squad from the field, including an anemic 4 of 29 mark from three-point range.

Another trouble spot for FDSH was its work from the free throw line, as they were only 7-for-25.

“I looked down at one point and we were 1-for-19 (on three-pointers,” said Dodger head coach Scott Messerly. “We missed a lot of bunnies underneath, too. And the free-throw shooting…you don’t and can’t win when you go (7-for-25). The ball just wouldn’t go in.

“We have to get better at staying focused and converting when we have opportunities. It’s really as simple as that.”

The Tigers held a 39-29 lead with four minutes left in the final fram when Fort Dodge began to chip away. A three-pointer by Dakota Pommer and a free throw from the junior made it 41-33.

LJ Maehl had two baskets, and a Brooklyn Pommer three and free throw got it down to 42-41. Kennedy Graettinger then converted both free throws for the Tigers late.

Maehl led the way for the Dodgers, finishing with a double-double at 14 points and 10 rebounds.

“They had too many open looks, and they converted their free throws,” Messerly said of Spencer. “We gave up too many open looks.

“We have to work on defending, being better passers, and just in general more consistent with what we’re doing.”

Dakota Pommer added seven points for Fort Dodge, while Meah McCaleb, Brooklyn Pommer, and Maddie Hoshaw tallied six each.

Spencer’s Sydee Hopkins and Graettinger had 10 points. All of Hopkins’ points came in the first half before she left with an ankle injury.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Des Moines Lincoln at 6:15 p.m.

SPENCER 44, FORT DODGE 41

Spencer — Sydnee Hopkins 3-6 4-4 10, Avery McEntee 1-3 0-0 2, Madelyn McWhirter 2-4 0-2 4, Addison Olson 2-7 0-1 4, Braylee Haldin 0-0 0-0 0, Gretchen Haak 0-1 0-0 0, Dakoda Lux 2-3 0-0 4, Kennedy Graettinger 2-8 8-9 10, Lucy Simington 2-2 0-0 4, Brynn Merchant 1-2 1-6 3. Totals: 15-36 13-22 44.

Fort Dodge — Meah McCaleb 2-7 2-7 6, Brooklyn Pommer 2-6 1-4 6, Maddie Hoshaw 3-6 0-2 6, LJ Maehl 6-20 0-4 14, Ellie Doster 0-1 0-0 0, Bella Lee 1-5 0-0 2, Dakota Pommer 1-6 4-8 7, Addison Lentsch 0-2 0-0, Janelle Derrig 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-53 7-25 41.

Quarter scores: Spencer led 18-14, 24-15, 35-27. Three-point goals: Spencer 0-5 (McWhirter 0-1, Hopkins 0-1, McEntee 0-2, Graettinger 0-2); Fort Dodge 4-29 (Maehl 2-10, Brooklyn Pommer 1-5, Dakota Pommer 1-5, McCaleb 0-2, Hoshaw 0-1, Doster 0-1, Lee 0-5, Lentsch 0-1); Total rebounds: Spencer 20, Fort Dodge 28; Turnovers: Spencer 24, Fort Dodge 21; Total fouls: Spencer 21, Fort Dodge 23; Technical fouls: Spencer bench 2.