Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Taevon Feeley goes to the basket for Fort Dodge against Des Moines Hoover on Thursday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Willie Williams had a simple message for his team after Thursday’s loss to Des Moines Hoover.

The Fort Dodge boys (2-9 overall) had just dropped a 54-45 home contest to the Huskies, who picked up their first win of the season in the process.

“It sounds easy, but we have to do the little things right and just make more shots,” Williams said. “We started doing that when we had to, but by then, it was too late. We have to be able to shoot with confidence and not turn the ball over so much — especially when it’s (unforced).”

The Huskies, who have lost five games by less than eight points and dropped two by a single possession, got out to an early lead on the Dodgers and never looked back. Hoover built an 11-point halftime edge (31-20) on 13 of 24 shooting.

“They hit shots and we didn’t,” Williams said. “They came out and were able to find the bucket. We struggled to do so.”

Fort Dodge wouldn’t go away quietly, as the Dodgers outscored the Huskies 20-10 in the fourth quarter and trimming a 19-point deficit down to seven at one point.

Hayden Zuspann got off to a quick start early, draining two triples on consecutive possessions. Zuspann made two shots from deep in the fourth quarter as well.

Carter Woodruff had all of his eight points in the final frame.

Cade Westerhoff finished with 13 points for FDSH. Zuspann added 12 and Reggie Pederson had six.

The Huskies had three players reach double figures, led by freshman Isaac Fandeh’s 19. Boie Gomo contributed 15 and Justice Parkey tallied 10 — all in the first half on perfect shooting.

The Huskies made 21 of 40 field goals for the contest.

“We have to move forward and forget about this one,” Williams said. “We have to keep fighting together. We did that on Tuesday (a 70-50 win at Des Moines East), but not as much (last night).”

The Dodgers honored the late Aaron Miller by wearing black warm-up shirts with his name across the back. This was the school’s first home date since Miller — the popular Fort Dodge Middle School teacher and coach and first-year administrator — passed away at the age of 35 in a car accident.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Monday at Humboldt. Tip is set for 8 p.m.

DES MOINES HOOVER 54, FORT DODGE 45

Des Moines Hoover — Diyon Berry 1-4 2-2 4, Justice Parkey 4-7 0-0 10, Boie Gomo 6-8 3-5 15, Isaac Fandeh 8-12 2-2 19, Tresean Phillips 1-5 1-2 3, Ruey Diew 0-3 0-0 0, Samuel Zay Zay 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 21-40 8-11 54.

Fort Dodge — Carter Woodruff 3-8 2-3 8, Cade Westerhoff 6-13 0-2 13, Taevon Feeley 0-2 0-0 0, Kauner Jensen 2-3 0-0 4, Hayden Zuspann 4-6 0-0 12, Tisyn Hook 1-2 0-0 2, Tytrell Mosley 0-4 0-0 0, Tayven Altman 0-1 0-0. Totals: 18-46 4-7 45.

Quarter scores: DMH led 15-12, 31-20, 44-25. Three-point goals: DMH 4-7 (Parkey 2-2, Fandeh 1-1, Zay Zay 1-2, Diew 0-2); Fort Dodge 5-14 (Zuspann 4-6, Westerhoff 1-3, Mosley 0-2, Woodruff 0-3); Total turnovers: DMH 15; Fort Dodge 14; Total fouls: DM Hoover 11; Fort Dodge 12: Fouled out: Woodruff.