WATERLOO - Coming off a huge home victory over then-No. 6 (Class 4A) Urbandale last Friday night, the Fort Dodge boys were unable to find the same magic, falling to Waterloo West Tuesday, 64-39.
The Dodgers (3-7 overall) fell in a 17-5 hole after the first quarter, but managed to trim the deficit to nine before halftime. West (6-4) pushed its advantage back to 14 after the third.
"We just were flat," FDSH head coach Tom Daniel said. "We were flat the whole game. It was the a worse-case-scenario for us coming off a big win.
"We got in a hole and we couldn't dig out. It was a sloppy effort that lacked energy."
JC Hatcher scored 20 to lead Fort Dodge, while James Wilder added six. The Dodgers made 16 of 19 from the line, but were just 1-for-14 from the three-point line.
"Anytime we needed a bucket, we failed to get one," Daniel said. "We settled for too many three-pointers and that was why we were in a hole to start the game."
Fact Box
WATERLOO WEST 64, FORT DODGE 39
Fort Dodge - JC Hatcher 20, Tyler Vaughn 2, Andrew Stover 4, James Wilder 6, Zach Martinson 5, Austin Halligan 2.
Waterloo West - Carderius Smith 17, Queshawn Roby 6, Malik Green 15, T.J. Morgan 2, Alex Landers 10, Xavier Hightower 3, Lincoln Conrey 2, Tyler Beenken 3, Jacob Meyer 6.
Quarter scores: Waterloo West led 17-5, 30-21, 46-32.
Carderius Smith led the Wahawks with 17, while Malik Green added 15.
Fort Dodge remains on the road, traveling to Ames Friday night.