BERRIEN SPRINGS — Dontel Highsmith scored a game-high 49 points, including eight 3-pointers as No. 6-ranked Dowagiac rolled to an easy 101-74 Wolverine Conference West Division win over Berrien Springs Thursday night.

Dowagiac (9-1) got off to another fast start, but the Shamrocks (3-7) kept it close for a while.

The Chieftains, behind a pair of 3-pointers from D.J. Hunt, poured in 23 points to take 23-18 lead on Berrien Springs.

Dowagiac remained consistent on the offensive end throughout the contest as it scored 27 points in the second quarter when it assumed control of the game, 25 points in the third quarter and 26 points in the final quarter.

The Shamrocks found themselves down 47-33 at halftime, but came out and scored 22 points in the third quarter. Still, they trailed the Chieftains 72-55 heading to the fourth.

“We got off to a pretty good start,” Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt said. “We picked up the pace and the tempo. We put up a lot of buckets tonight. We were able to speed things up and they couldn’t keep up.

“Overall, it was a good night. When you put up 101 you can’t ask for a much better effort.

Dowagiac pumped in 19 3-pointers in the contest compared to just seven for the Shamrocks.

“Once he hit that first one, they all started going in,” Hunt said of Highsmith.

Davion Highsmith added 13 points for the Chieftains, who also got 11 points from Hunt.

Jon Williams led Berrien Springs with 33 points. Nick Little chipped in with 11.

 

DOWAGIAC 101

Dontel Highsmith 49; Davion Highsmith 13; Trace Hatcher 2; Kyle Solloway 9; Joey Pasternak 9; D.J. Hunt 11; Tyler Clark 8. TOTALS: 15 (19) 14-23 101

BERRIEN SPRINGS 74

Nick Little 11; Michael Beckson 4; Norton Gumbo 2; Geoffrey Mfune 2; Jon Williams 33; Tyler Shelton 5; Everett Shembarger 1; Kyle Rago 2; DeAndre Taylor 14. TOTALS: 20 (7) 13-24 74

 

Dowagiac 23 47 72 101

Berrien 18 33 55 74

3-point goals: Dowagiac 19 (Clark 2, Hunt 3; Pasternak 2, Davion 4, Dontel 8), Berrien Springs 7 (Little 3, Shelton 1, Taylor 3). Total foul (fouled out): Dowagiac 17 (none), Berrien Springs 14 (none). Varsity record: Dowagiac 9-1, Berrien Springs 3-7