STORM LAKE — The Fort Dodge girls came out strong here Wednesday night in a Class 4A postseason opener against Storm Lake.

The Tornadoes answered the call, though, overcoming the Dodgers to advance with a 54-39 victory.

Storm Lake (15-7 overall) will head to Carroll (16-6) on Saturday for a Class 4A, Region 7 semifinal.

LJ Maehl scored a game-high 20 points with four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot for the Dodgers (8-15 overall). Ellie Doster added eight.

“We had the right plan, but Storm Lake put a run on us in the second half and knocked down their free throws,” FDSH head coach Scott Messerly said. “The girls gave it everything they had.”

Thanks to a strong start, Fort Dodge held a 15-8 lead after the opening eight minutes. Storm Lake responded, outscoring the Dodgers in the second to take a slim 23-21 advantage into the break.

Adeeya Yanga, who recently committed to Buena Vista University, had a team-high 19 points, with Avery DeHaan adding 13 for the Tornadoes. Storm Lake had a big win over ranked 1A Newell-Fonda in its regular season finale and had defeated Fort Dodge last month, 58-32.

Meah McCaleb, one of three seniors on the roster for the Dodgers along with Brooklyn Pommer and Janelle Derrig, had four steals, three rebounds and three assists. Pommer added eight rebounds.

“These seniors really gave us a lot over these past four years,” Messerly said. “They will be a tough group to replace.”

STORM LAKE 54, FORT DODGE 39

Fort Dodge — LJ Maehl 20, Ellie Doster 8, Dakota Pommer 5, Meah McCaleb 4, Bella Lee 2.

Storm Lake — Adeeya Yanga 19, Avery DeHaan 13, Grace Kenkel 9, Maddy Raveling 8, Mackenzie Harder 5.

Quarter scores: Fort Dodge led 15-8; Storm Lake led 23-21, 43-32.