CASSOPOLIS — Host Cassopolis scored the first nine points of the game Tuesday night and never looked back in defeating Dowagiac 35-15 in non-league girls basketball action.

The Rangers led 11-2 after the first quarter and 15-5 by halftime.

New Chieftain coach Floyd Foston, who spent many years coaching both boys and girls basketball at Cassopolis, was expecting his team to play better.

Unfortunately for Foston, who said it felt awkward coaching from the visitor’s bench, thought his team took a step backward.

“I was hoping to see some progress, but it looks like we actually are going backwards,” he said. “It’s back to the drawing board.”

The Rangers, who outscored Dowagiac 20-10 in the second half to pull away to the easy victory, rebounded nicely from their loss Friday night to a very good Mendon team.

“The girls played well, the girls played hard,” first-year Cassopolis coach Nat Pittman said. “That was a big improvement. To me they showed that they had desire. I give all the credit to them because our defense was much better and we were more aggressive. We have to do that every game.”

Jade Gatson was the lone Ranger to reach double digits as she led all scorers with 10 points. Breanna Coleman added seven points.

Dowagiac was led by Rayven Brown’s eight points. No other Chieftain player had more than two points.

Dowagiac will head to Coloma Friday night to face the Comets in a Wolverine Conference West Division contest. The girls will play second after the Chieftain boys team at approximately 7:15 p.m.

 

DOWAGIAC 15

Crieona Rodgers 0 0-0 0; Kristyn Turner 0 1-3 1; Jessica Herthoge 1 0-0 2; Kylee Williams 0 0-0 0; Amanda Craft 1 0-2 2; Rayven Brown 2 3-4 8; Angel Parker 0 0-0 0; Riley Daily 0 0-0 0; Jenesis Green 0 0-0 0; Ciera Smith 0 2-4 2; Brianna McCuddy 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 4 6-13 15

CASSOPOLIS 35

Breanna Coleman 2 2-2 7; Brittney Prestly 1 1-2 4; Jaleesa Garner 3 2-10 8; Janye Butts 1 0-0 2; Logan Lawson 0 0-0 0; Jade Gatson 5 0-2 10; Jocelyn Transou 1 2-4 4; Olivia Nelson 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13 7-20 35

 

Dowagiac 2 5 10 15

Cassopolis 11 15 23 35

3-point goals: Dowagiac 1 (Brown), Cassopolis 2 (Coleman, Prestly). Total fouls (fouled out): Dowagiac 11 (none), Cassopolis 11 (none). Technical fouls: None. Varsity records: Dowagiac 0-3, Cassopolis 2-1