Prince Jallah came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points in three quarters and help Marshalltown (4-11, 4-4 CIML Iowa) to a 67-53 victory over Fort Dodge (2-13, 0-9 CIML) Friday night.

The Bobcats hadn’t played since a 62-57 loss to No. 3 Johnston eight days ago, spending a week off the court due to COVID-19 concerns within the program. Starter Drake Kapayou — who Appel called the team’s best on-ball defender — was out, as were reserve players Bul Chol and Dwight Joar. Appel said all of them are expected to be back Monday.

Jallah was bench for the first quarter, meaning Justin Melde and Ivan Alvarado were handed starts in their place. Melde had an and-one in the first quarter and Alvarado hit a three in the second half.

Marshalltown was able to jump out to a 16-9 lead in the first quarter thanks to two 3-pointers from Grant Greazel and five of Armonniey Thomas’s 20 points.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

But the Dodgers made a run in the second quarter behind Averey Martin, who had 12 points in the first half and eventually finished with a game-high 25 points. A Thomas three gave the Bobcats a 23-22 lead at the half.

Appel said the Bobcats did a good job adjusting to Martin’s game after the first half.

“It was tough,” Appel said. “We did a lot better job that second half of, as a team, collectively understanding what he’s going to try and do and a team effort in stopping him.”

The second half is where Jallah made his mark — starting in the middle of the third quarter, Jallah made headway on the offensive side of the ball. He even hit a 3-pointer as part of a Marshalltown run. But in the paint he was a problem for the Dodgers’ defense with his touch and ability to adjust in the air. Despite going 1-for-11 at the free-throw line, he was a catalyst for the Bobcats icing the game in the fourth quarter.

“His potential is through the roof,” Appel said.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

Thomas contributed as well, finding Greazel for one of his four threes early in the fourth quarter and pushing the lead to 55-39.

Multiple times the Bobcats allowed Fort Dodge to get within 12 points off of missed free throws and baskets from Martin. But the Dodgers could get no closer as Marshalltown shut off every possible path to victory.

The Bobcats made four of 20 free throw attempts and could have won the game by more, but Appel said that rust was expected after the enforced break from any team practices.

“With free throws, it’s all about routine, right?” Appel said. “If you’re not in a routine and you’re in quarantine for that long and not able to shoot and do those things. You don’t see too often where you shoot a higher percentage from three than from the free throw line.”

Up next for the Bobcats is a home battle with Norwalk Monday night.

Marshalltown 67, Fort Dodge 53

FORT DODGE (2-13, 0-9) — Bradley Vodraska 3 1-2 8, Carson Peterson 1 2-2 4, Drake Callon 2 3-3 7, Javion Jondle 2 1-2 7, Averey Martin 9 3-4 25, Jon Astor 0 0-0 0, Kaleb Lynch 0 0-0 0, Alex Underwood 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 18 10-13 53.

MARSHALLTOWN (4-11, 4-4) — Armonniey Thomas 8 2-8 20, Ivan Alvarado 1 0-0 3, Grant Greazel 4 0-0 12, Justin Melde 1 1-1 3, Isaiah Borgos 3 0-0 7, Prince Jallah 10 1-11 22, Dalen Huston 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 27 4-20 67.

FORT DODGE 9 13 15 16 — 53

MHS 16 7 21 23 — 67

3-Point Goals–FD 7 (Martin 4, Jondle 2, Vodraska), MHS 9 (Greazel 4, Thomas 2, Alvarado, Jallah, Borgos). Team Fouls–FD 16, MHS 14. Fouled out–none.