Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Taevon Feeley of Fort Dodge puts up a shot against Des Moines East on Friday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Fort Dodge boys basketball coach Willie Williams wants defense to be his program’s hallmark.

For the first five-plus minutes of the fourth quarter here on Friday, the Dodgers got the stops they needed to pull away from Des Moines East and earn their first victory of the season.

A 13-1 run to open the period broke a close game wide open, and Fort Dodge closed the Scarlets out for a 58-50 victory to start 2025 on a high note.

Senior Cade Westerhoff scored 20 points and freshman Reggie Pederson added 15 for the Dodgers (1-5 overall), who had struggled during the early portion of the season before finding a winning formula last night on their home court. The game was hanging in the balance early in the final frame when Fort Dodge put the clamps on the Scarlets (1-4), holding them without a single basket until 2:15 remained in regulation.

“It’s just great to see our guys come together and do their (respective) jobs,” Williams said. “Basketball is a team game. You need players to (embrace) their roles and play to their strengths. We did that (Friday).

“The kids played hard. Good things happen when you do that. We made mistakes, but kept getting after it. And it was big to see the defense start that run (in the fourth). It just feels great to see them (experience) some success together and have smiles on their faces (afterward).”

Westerhoff shook off a slow start and found his rhythm with 10 second-period points on perfect shooting. Pederson was active again on both ends of the court, and junior Taevon Feeley — making his season debut — added 10 points.

Westerhoff and Feeley also flirted with double-doubles. The Dodgers had a hard time keeping East off the glass, and the home squad committed 24 turnovers. The Scarlets made only 21 of 70 field goal attempts, though — a 30-percent clip.

East was also 4-for-13 at the free throw line and misfired on 15 of 19 shots from behind the arc.

“We talked about just sticking together and being there for each other (during the winter break),” Williams said. “It’s easy to start being selfish or pointing fingers (after the slow start to the year). We can’t get into that. We have to stay positive, even when we go through some tough stretches.

“Cade and Reggie did some great things and brought the energy. It was good to have Taevon back out there. Hayden (Zuspann) gave us positive minutes off the bench (with nine points). Carter (Woodruff) ran the offense well. Kauner (Jensen) was active rebounding. Tytell (Mosley), Tisyn (Hook) and Tayven (Altman) did a nice job when they were out there.

“This was just a solid team win. And it’s huge having (former Dodger standouts) Jordan (Jackson) and Malcolm (Clayton) on our (coaching) staff (both Top-15 scorers in program history). They’ve been through this (within the last decade) and know what it takes.”

Westerhoff cleared the 500-point mark for his varsity career in the victory. The 6-foot-3 wing now has 506 points in 45 games.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Monday at home against Mason City (2-3) and Tuesday at Ames (6-1).

FORT DODGE 58, DES MOINES EAST 50

Fort Dodge — Cade Westerhoff 8-18 3-4 20, Reggie Pederson 6-11 3-3 15, Taevon Feeley 5-6 0-0 10, Kauner Jensen 1-4 0-0 2, Carter Woodruff 0-1 0-0 0, Hayden Zuspann 3-9 2-2 9, Tisyn Hook 1-3 0-0 2, Tayven Altman 0-1 0-0 0, Tytrell Mosley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-54 8-9 58.

Des Moines East — Craig Farley 4-13 1-1 10, Damarius Parker 4-13 1-1 9, Abel Mikele 2-8 0-2 4, Teaghan Warren 1-4 0-2 2, Malik Williams 0-1 0-1 0, Daniel Tut 4-6 1-2 9, Tayte Warren 3-7 0-2 6, D’Angelo Parker 2-11 1-2 5, Donovan Rockers 1-5 0-0 3, Cedrique Irishura 0-2 0-0 0, Trevon Kelly 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-70 4-13 50.

Quarter scores: East led 17-13; Fort Dodge led 29-27; Tied 43-43. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 2-8 (Westerhoff 1-2, Zuspann 1-3, Woodruff 0-1, Feeley 0-1, Pederson 0-1); East 4-19 (Mikele 2-4, Farley 1-5, Rockers 1-5, Parker 0-3, Irishura 0-2). Turnovers: Fort Dodge 24, East 16. Total fouls: Fort Dodge 17, East 14. Fouled out: Woodruff.