Photo by Rick Thompson: Elliot Carlson of Humboldt scores over Fort Dodge’s Taevon Feeley on Monday in the Wildcat gym.

HUMBOLDT — Coming off an extended football season, the Humboldt boys took a little longer than usual to get into basketball shape.

Now the Wildcats are on a roll.

Humboldt picked up its sixth consecutive win here Monday night, topping Fort Dodge by a final of 74-60. The Wildcats (8-4 overall) are 7-1 since losing three of four to begin the year.

Jackson Flaherty and Elliot Carlson both scored 16 for Humboldt, with Coen Matson adding 13 and Valley Davis 11.

The Dodgers (2-10) were paced by a game-high 21 from Cade Westerhoff. Freshman Reggie Pederson added 16 and Carter Woodruff chipped in 13.

“We had great effort, but we dug ourselves a hole early and couldn’t fight back,” FDSH head coach Willie Williams said. “Getting down 15 in the first half just shouldn’t happen and cannot happen.

“It was a game of runs and we battled. We’d answer, but they’d always respond. It’s just tough to overcome that, especially on the road against a really good ballclub.”

Humboldt went up 26-11 early and held a 14-point advantage at the half before the Dodgers trimmed the deficit down to seven.

Leading by 10 entering the fourth, the Wildcats went on a 12-4 run for the final knockout punch.

“Cade played well and has been lately,” Williams said. “I thought Reggie, Carter, Kauner (Jensen) and Tayven (Altman) gave us good minutes. Really, everyone did in stretches. Humboldt’s just a very good, very physical, well-coached team.

“I was proud of the effort and the energy overall, but again, the execution has to be more consistent.”

Carlson, who recently became the seventh Wildcat ever to eclipse 1,000 career points, was averaging 24.4 per game before Monday and had scored 125 in his last four contests.

Fort Dodge is right back on the court Tuesday, hosting Waterloo East. They conclude the week Friday at Mason City.

Humboldt is at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows in North Central Conference play Tuesday before returning here to host Webster City Friday.

HUMBOLDT 74, FORT DODGE 60

Fort Dodge — Cade Westerhoff 21, Reggie Pederson 16, Carter Woodruff 13, Taevon Feeley 5, Tayven Altman 3, Kauner Jensen 2.

Humboldt — Jackson Flaherty 16, Elliot Carlson 16, Coen Matson 13, Valley Davis 11, Mason Van Pelt 9, Chase Flaherty 7, Jackson Dodd 3.

Quarter scores: Humboldt led 26-11, 37-23, 49-39.