By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

On a night when the Dowagiac boys’ basketball program honored its seasons, freshman Dontel Highsmith came up big for the Chieftains.

With the game hanging in the balance, Highsmith took control in the final minute of play and led Dowagiac to a 63-59 win over visiting Comstock.

Highsmith completed a three-point play with 1:10 to play to give the Chieftains a 59-54 advantage. He free throw with 44 ticks left on the clock extended the advantage to six points.

The Chieftains appeared to be in control of the game in the final half minute Thursday night, but a foul and a technical foul on Darius Wilson gave the Colts four free throw attempts and the basketball.

Down 60-54 with 33.3 remaining in the game, Wilson was whistled for a foul.

He was then hit with a technical foul.

Allie Buchanan connected on both of his three throw chances and then Comstock’s Mason Munn hit one-of-two as the lead shrank to 60-57.

Buchanan then scored with 15.3 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game.

The Chieftains (7-13, 7-11 Wolverine) were able to put the game away at the free throw line in the final 13 seconds.

Dowagiac hit three out of four chances to pull out the victory.

The Chieftains seemed to be in control of the game during stretches, only to have the Colts come stampeding back time after time.

Dowagiac had leads between six and eight points in each of the four quarters, but appeared to go flat.

“At some points of  the game we went flat,” Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt said. “But that goes back to our playing hard for 32 minutes. We need to be consistent.”

Dowagiac and Comstock (10-10, 9-9) were knotted at 11 after one period of play despite the Chieftains’ 8-2 lead early on provided by its senior dominated starting line up of Andrew Cripe, Pierre Reed, Damone Huff and Cody Cox.

Dowagiac was able to open up a four-point halftime cushion and extended it to 41-33 heading to the final quarter.

Both teams filled it up in the final eight minutes as they combined for 48 points.

Comstock got the better of it, outscoring the Chieftains 26-22.

Highsmith led the Chieftains with 16 points. Tremail Butcher added 11 points, while Huff added nine and Wilson seven.

The Colts’ Mason Munn connected on five 3-pointers and led all scorers with 20 points.
Comstock also got 12 points from Caleb Burnett, all on 3-pointers, and 11 points from Chad Griswold.

The Chieftains wrap up the regular season with a three-game winning streak.

Dowagiac will put that streak on the line Monday night as it opens up Class B District Basketball Tournament play in Buchanan.

The Chieftains will take on St. Joseph and former coach Greg Blomgren.
Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

COMSTOCK 59
Ryan Vrooman 1 2-3 4; Mason Gatti 1 0-0 2; Mason Munn 6 3-4 20; Caleb Burnett 4 0-0 12; Stacey Martin 1 2-6 4; Curtis Murray 1 0-0 2; Allie Buchanan 1 2-2 4; Chad Griswold 5 1-3 11. TOTALS: 20 10-18 59
DOWAGIAC 63
Dontel Highsmith 4 6-7 16; Troy Butcher 0 0-0 0; Andrew Cripe 1 0-0 2; Jason Turner 1 0-0 3; Chris Craft 0 2-2 2; Tremail Butcher 5 0-0 11; D.J. Hunt 1 2-2 5; Pierre Reed 1 0-0 3; Darius Wilson 2 3-5 7; Damone Huff 4 1-2 9; Cody Cox 2 1-2 5. TOTALS: 21 15-20 63

Comstock 11 23 33 59
Dowagiac 11 27 41 63
3-point baskets: Comstock 9 (Munn 5, Burnett 4), Dowagiac 6 (Highsmith 2, Turner, Tremail Butcher, Hunt, Reed). Total fouls: Comstock 17, Dowagiac 15. Fouled out: Wilson (D). Varsity records: Comstock 10-10; 9-9; Dowagiac 7-13, 7-11 Wolverine