From staff reports

SOUTH HAVEN – Through three quarters of play Tuesday night, the visiting Dowagiac boys’ basketball team stood toe-to-toe with South Haven.

But the Chieftains were no match for the Rams in the fourth quarter and wound up on the wrong end of a 70-56 Wolverine Conference final.

Dowagiac (3-5, 3-4 Wolverine) was outscored 24-12 in the fourth quarter by the Rams, who held just a two-point (46-44) advantage heading into the final frame.

South Haven (5-3, 5-2 Wolverine) led at every quarter break.

The Rams were up 13-12 after one period of play and 34-31 at the intermission.

South Haven’s Michael Walker led all scorers with 36 points, including four 3-pointers. Jalen Wilder added 16 points for the Rams.

Freshman Dontel Highsmith paced Dowagiac with 14 points. Darius Wilson and Chris Craft finished with 10 and eight points respectively.

Tremail Butcher chipped in with seven points.

Dowagiac will be back on the road Friday night as it travels to Paw Paw for another league match-up.

The Dowagiac freshmen team was also defeated by South Haven Tuesday night, 67-26.

DOWAGIAC 56
Tremail Butcher 7, Cody Cox 0, Chris Craft 8, Andrew Cripe 3, Dontel Highsmith 14, Pierre Reed 2, Jason Turner 0, Darius Wilson 10, Troy Butcher 12. TOTALS: 21 10-13 56
SOUTH HAVEN 70
Isiah Magett 3; Josh Taylor 1; Trevor Stricklin 6; Lamont Dick 8; Michael Walker 36; Jalen Wilder 16. TOTALS: 27 10-16 70

Dowagiac 12 31 44 56
South Haven 13 34 46 70
3-point goals: Dowagiac 4 (Highsmith, Cripe, Craft 2), South Haven 6 (Walker 4, Wilder 2). Total fouls: Dowagiac 15, South Haven 11. Fouled out: None. Varsity records: Dowagiac 3-5, 3-4 Wolverine; South Haven 5-3, 5-2 Wolverine