Marshalltown boys basketball is locked in to finish 2023.

A runaway first half was plenty for the Bobcats in a 62-45 victory over winless Fort Dodge in the Roundhouse on Friday.

Kyle Smith poured in 20 points including six 3-pointers, and Carter Giannetto and Cory Smith chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.

After an 0-4 start, MHS has won three straight and takes on Des Moines East next Tuesday in the final game before the holiday break.

“This is two games in a row now where we were focused and ready to play,” MHS head coach Michael Appel said. “We’re giving a lot of effort on the defensive end and making it hard for them to score and that allowed us to get some really good looks on offense, we were aggressive getting to the rim.”

The Bobcats scored the first 11 points of the game and were up 21-6 after the first quarter. MHS made seven of their eight 3-point baskets in the first half of Friday’s game.

Cory Smith’s 13 is a new career-high for the senior.

“Kyle has his ability to shoot and Cory really showed tonight that he can make some good moves to the rim,” Appel said. “Once we can suck them inside a little bit we get Kyle open on the outside so that’s how they’re able to complement each other.”

Fort Dodge got within 14 in the third quarter with a 9-2 run but the Smiths scored the final five of the quarter to push the lead back to 19 at 51-32.

Lamar Johnson put in a pair of buckets to start the fourth and Carter Giannetto accounted for the Bobcats’ final seven points of the night to keep MHS one step ahead of the Dodgers. Giannetto’s 14 points is a season high.

“You could tell he was playing with a lot of confidence tonight,” Appel said. “He made some really good drives to the rim when we needed to score there. He was aggressive, finishing at the rim and understanding when to drive those gaps in the zone.”

The Bobcats can get back to .500 before the break with a win on Tuesday.

“We have to continue to lock in, it’s what we’ve emphasized all year,” Appel said. “One practice at a time — ‘How good are we going to be today?’ And that will hopefully prepare us for that next game.”

Marshalltown 62, Fort Dodge 45

FORT DODGE (0-7, 0-3) — Carter Woodruff 3 0-0 6, Cade Westerhoff 10 2-3 22, Tytrell Mosley 1 0-0 2, Ty Adams 0 2-2 2, Drake Warland 2 1-1 5, Hayden Zuspann 2 1-2 6, Taevon Feeley 1 0-0 2, Kauner Jensen 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 19 6-8 45.

MARSHALLTOWN (3-4, 3-0) — Carter Giannetto 6 1-2 14, Treshaun Brooks 2 0-0 4, Kyle Smith 7 0-0 20, Cory Smith 6 1-1 13, Rogelio Ceren 0 0-0 0, Jacob Thiessen 1 0-0 3, Jacob Hayes 1 0-0 2, LaMar Johnson 3 0-0 6. TOTALS 26 2-3 62.

FORT DODGE 6 12 14 13 — 45

MHS 21 19 15 7 — 62

3-Point Goals–FD 1 (Zuspann), MHS 8 (K. Smith 6, Giannetto, Thiessen). Team Fouls–FD 7, MHS 11. Fouled Out–none.