-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Reggie Pederson of Fort Dodge shoots over Urbandale Caleb Hadden on Monday

The start of a three-game week did not go as planned for the Fort Dodge boys here Monday night.

After battling to keep it close with visiting Urbandale through the opening portion of the contest, the Dodgers hit an offensive road block, going 10 minutes without a basket on their way to falling, 79-41.

The J-Hawks (6-9 overall) have won five of six now after starting the year 1-8 with losses to ranked teams like No. 2 (Class 4A) West Des Moines Valley, fifth-ranked Waukee Northwest, No. 8 Waukee and ninth-rated Ames.

Jaxson Cathcart and Caden Burns each scored 10 for Urbandale, with Jake Pargeon, Davis Hardersen and Keane Riley all adding nine. The J-Hawks did not attempt a free throw until the fourth quarter, using a 23-4 run to take control.

“We couldn’t get past their zone,” FDSH head coach Willie Williams said. “They are long and athletic, especially at the top of it, and we struggled with that. When we were able to get into our offense, we just couldn’t get a shot to fall — especially there early.”

For the Dodgers (4-13), seniors Carter Woodruff and Cade Westerhoff each scored 12, with Woodruff sinking four 3-pointers. Westerhoff had eight rebounds, as juniors Hayden Zuspann and Kauner Jensen added six and five points.

The two teams exchanged buckets over the first three minutes of play, with Fort Dodge tying it at 6-all early on the first Woodruff triple. But after the Dodgers made it 10-8 in favor of Urbandale with 3:40 to play, they would go scoreless until a Brody Maehl basket with 2:40 to play before half made it 28-12.

“I was proud of the guys for continuing to fight even when we got down like we did,” Williams said. “We kept battling out there for rebounds and kept competing.”

Urbandale’s 6-foot-6 senior, Caleb Hadden altered several shots on the night, finishing with five blocks to go along with six points and five rebounds.

Fort Dodge is now off until Thursday when they travel to sixth-ranked (3A) Storm Lake. They conclude the week on Friday at Des Moines North.

URBANDALE 79, FORT DODGE 41

Fort Dodge — Carter Woodruff 4 0-1 12, Cade Westerhoff 4 4-8 12, Taevon Feeley 0 0-0 0, Reggie Pederson 1 0-0 2, Kauner Jensen 2 1-2 5, Hayden Zuspann 2 0-0 6, Brody Maehl 1 0-0 2, Tisyn Hook 0 0-0 0, Tytrell Mosley 0 0-0 0, Tayven Altman 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 5-11 41.

Urbandale — Jake Pargeon 4 0-0 9, Jackson Sturdivant 1 0-0 3, Jaxson Cathcart 5 0-0 10, Davis Hardersen 4 0-0 9, Caleb Hadden 3 0-0 6, Turner Brown 3 2-2 8, Keane Riley 3 3-3 9, Caden Burns 4 2-4 10, Calen Heller 1 0-0 2, Ter Kuel 2 0-2 4, Kaleb Price 0 0-0 0, Blake Bullerman 0 0-0 0, Elijah O’Dear 2 0-0 4, Zach Glynn 0 0-0 0, Kayden Kurtz 0 0-0 0, Drew Tentinger 0 0-0 0, Jack Dougherty 0 0-0 0, Kade Yager 0 0-2 0. Totals: 32 7-13 41.

Quarter scores: Urbandale led 16-10, 37-15, 60-31. Three-point goals: Fort Dodge 6 (Woodruff 4, Zuspann 2), Urbandale 3 (Pargeon 1, Sturdivant 1, Hardersen 1). Total rebounds: Fort Dodge 28, Urbandale 31. Steals: Fort Dodge 4, Urbandale 15. Blocked shots: Fort Dodge 0, Urbandale 6. Turnovers: Fort Dodge 19, Urbandale 6. Team fouls: Fort Dodge 11, Urbandale 12.