-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Shareece Smith of Fort Dodge shoots around Waterloo Jada Draine (41) on Saturday

The Fort Dodge girls basketball squad suffered a heart-breaking Senior Night loss here Saturday, as Zia Collet hit a shot at the buzzer to give Waterloo West a 57-55 victory.

The Dodgers (4-15 overall) stormed back from a 16-point halftime deficit to take a two-possession lead in the closing two minutes. But the Wahawks (10-10) weathered the storm and rallied for the non-conference win.

Shareece Smith scored 21 points for FDSH, while Beth Murman added 11. Smith drained four three-point baskets.

The Dodgers trailed 16-5 at the end of the first quarter and 31-15 at the intermission before mounting their comeback. They out-scored West 23-12 in the third period, and eventually pulled ahead 53-49 with under two minutes remaining.

”We had a very slow start, but we made a great comeback effort,” FDSH head coach Julius Michalik said. ”We were up by four before losing on a last-second prayer.

”I’m very proud of my team. The players showed a lot of heart in the second half, but sometimes, you just come up short.”

Collet’s desperation game-winner came after Fort Dodge missed a shot to try and go back on top with 10 seconds left.

The Dodgers honored Smith, Murman, Liza Van Zyl, Taelor Lessmeier, Raeya Love and Makla Naylor before the contest. The seniors scored all 55 of FDSH’s points on Saturday.

Next action for the Dodgers is Tuesday at home against seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial.

WATERLOO WEST 57,

FORT DODGE 55

Waterloo West — Aleah Cook 3 0-0 7, Lauren Conrey 4 5-6 13, NaTracia Ceaser 5 2-2 15, Jada Draine 3 0-0 8, Zia Collet 3 2-2 8, Gabby Moore 1 2-2 4, CC Young 1 0-1 2. Totals: 20 11-13 57.

Fort Dodge — Raeya Love 2 0-0 4, Shareece Smith 7 3-6 21, Beth Murman 5 0-1 11, Taelor Lessmeier 4 0-0 10, Liza Van Zyl 4 0-1 9. Totals: 22 3-8 55.

Quarter scores: West led 16-5, 31-15, 45-38. Three-point goals: West 6 (Ceaser 3, Cook 1, Draine 2); Fort Dodge 8 (Smith 4, Murman 1, Lessmeier 2, Van Zyl 1). Total fouls: West 15, Fort Dodge 13.