It took 26 years for someone to break the Dowagiac single game scoring record.

It may not take that long before it’s broken again.

Tom Livingston poured in 44 points 26 years ago. It was a record that looked as if it may not be broken until last Friday night when Dowagiac junior guard Dontel Highsmith tossed in 42 points to kick off the 2011-12 season.

Four days later, Highsmith smashed the school record as he connected on 21 baskets, including five 3-pointers and went 9-for-9 at the free throw line to score an amazing 56 points.

The record actually may have fallen in the season opener, but Highsmith missed 10 free throws in scoring his 42 points.

Instead of being satisfied, Dontel went to work in the gym spending extra time correcting his form. It definitely paid off in the Chieftains’ 95-63 victory over Plainwell.

“He spent extra time in the gym getting the hitch out of his shot,” Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt said.

I can’t say I am surprised that Highsmith now owns the school record. I have been doing this job for 30 years and he’s the best I have ever seen put on a Chieftain basketball uniform.

There is a reason why colleges have been coming to Dowagiac on a regular basis or catching the Chieftains’ road show the past couple of years. That will only pick up as the word spreads of his feats so far this season.

I can also say I am not surprised that he immediately went to work to correct his free throw issue. He’s that type of kid.

Dontel Highsmith is not your average jock. He is as smart as he is talented. He is a natural athlete who excels in every sport he participates in.

This past fall he returned to the gridiron after not playing his sophomore season.

One would expect that the star player on the basketball team would want to shy away from a contact sport such as football while he  hones his game and waits for the college offers to roll in.

Not Dontel.

And instead of playing just wide receiver where he could control the amount of contact he would receive, he played on both sides of the football and on special teams.

Just as he has on the basketball court, Dontel excelled on the football field, earning All-Wolverine Conference honors as a wide receiver.

In his very first game for the Chieftains this season, he returned a kickoff 88 yards for a score. Talk about announcing your presence.

There is no doubt in my mind if he wanted to play football at a Division I school, he would have no trouble finding a scholarship.

But he is a basketball player through and through. I knew it from the first time I saw him play a basketball game back in junior high.

I said right then and there, he was the best player I had seen wearing orange and black. I couldn’t wait to get to see him compete at the varsity level.

He hasn’t disappointed me. You could see the potential as a freshman. He then helped lead the Chieftains to the Class B state semifinals.

I don’t know if Dowagiac can make another run like that, but with Dontel leading the way, the sky might just be the limit for the Chieftains this season.

In my position, you meet a lot of athletes over the years. Some of them you can take or leave. But it’s the ones that are not only great athletes, but great people that I remember the most.

Dontel Highsmith has left a lasting impression on me. I hope to catch a few more games over the next two seasons and I definitely cannot way until he picks a college to continue his career at.

I know I am going to get a chance to see him play on national television in the near future.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at Scott.novak@leaderpub.com