Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Carter Woodruff of Fort Dodge drives to the basket on Friday night in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge boys couldn’t put together four full quarters of basketball here on Friday night, and a big burst from Spencer was too much to overcome.

The Dodgers (0-2 overall) were within shouting distance at the end of three periods, but the Tigers (1-1) went on an 11-2 run to open the final frame and Fort Dodge couldn’t get back within reach in a 65-51 setback.

“We looked good in phases and at times, but we couldn’t put it all together consistently,” said FDSH head coach Willie Williams. “We let our offense dictate what we did and we weren’t focused enough. It showed.”

Heading into the fourth, the Dodgers trailed 45-36. Spencer then delivered the knockout punch with a trifecta of three-pointers.

The Dodgers struggled identify Spencer standout Cael Bruning, who burned Fort Dodge from deep. The senior was a threat all evening long for the Tigers, scoring 26 points. He hit five shots from behind the arc.

“We have to identify the (other team’s) main shooter,” Williams said. “We have to listen to each other and do the little things. Communicate. We keep telling them, we just have to believe. It will come together if we dig deep.

“We have to play hard for four full quarters. No off stretches. It’s all about the fundamentals and hustling to make the extra-effort plays.”

Senior Cade Westershoff had a big first quarter with eight points on 4-for-5 shooting. Junior Tytrell Mosley had a big third period with three straight baskets to trim the deficit.

Westerhoff led the Dodgers 14 points overall. Classmate Carter Woodruff added 11 points.

Tayven Altman contributed eight points Mosley finished with seven.

The taller Spencer lineup was a threat inside as well with Foster Roos, who was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field with points — including a thunderous dunk. Jack Berends tallied nine points inside, also giving FDSH fits on the low blocks.

Meanwhile, the Tigers also hit nine three pointers. The Dodgers didn’t make a single triple try.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Tuesday at home again, when they host Des Moines Lincoln. Varsity tip is slated for 7:45 p.m.

SPENCER 65, FORT DODGE 51

Spencer — Brady Vreeman 2-8 0-0 4, Ethan Hansen 1-5 2-2 5, Ryan Matthiesen 2-4 0-0 6, Cael Bruning 8-18 5-9 26, Jack Berends 2-7 4-6 9, Dylan Timmer 1-1 0-0 2, Cole Cantrall 1-1 1-2 3, Foster Roos 4-4 0-0 8, George Lawson 0-0 0-0 0, Brayden Roos 1-1 0-0 2, Hunter Byrd 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-50 12-18 65.

Fort Dodge — Carter Woodruff 4-7 3-3 11, Cade Westerhoff 7-13 0-2 14, Tayven Altman 4-7 0-0 8, Tytrell Mosley 3-8 1-2 7, Kauner Jensen 0-0 0-0 0, Hayden Zuspann 1-9 0-0 2, Brody Maehl 2-2 0-0 4, Carter Morris 1-2 0-1 2, Gavin Davis 1-1 0-0 3, Tisyn Hook 0-0 0-0 0, Kartern Hemrick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-49 4-8 51.

Quarter scores: Spencer led 18-14, 32-24, 45-36. Three-point goals: Spencer 9-21 (Bruning 5-12, Matthiesen 2-4, Hansen 1-1, Berends 1-1, Vreeman 0-2, Brayden Roos 0-1; Fort Dodge 1-13 (Davis 1-1, Woodruff 0-2, Westerhoff 0-1, Mosley 0-1, Jensen 0-1, Zuspann 0-6, Morris 0-1; Total rebounds: Spencer 23, Fort Dodge 19; Turnovers: Spencer 16, Fort Dodge 11; Total fouls: Spencer 16, Fort Dodge 18; Fouled out: Jensen.