Maybe it is just a flare for the dramatic or a keen sense of timing.

But whatever it is, Dowagiac junior Brandon Winchester-Jones knows just when to show up for the Chieftains.

Such was the case Tuesday night when Dowagiac was battle long-time rival Niles.

The Vikings had rallied to take a 44-40 lead into the final quarter when Winchester-Jones shifted into another gear and helped Dowagiac earn a 58-55 victory.

He scored off a turnover to tie the game at 44-44 just 33 seconds into the final quarter. A minute later he completed a three-point play to give Dowagiac a 47-44 lead.

His offensive rebound off a missed free throw with 7.8 seconds left allowed him to step to the line, connect on both attempts and seal the victory.

When it was all said and done, Winchester-Jones had scored nine of his game-high 25 points.

He also helped Dowagiac keep it close in the first half by scoring 12 points when the Chieftains were struggling to keep up with the Vikings.

“Coach has been telling me since game one that things will start clicking,” Winchester-Jones said. “It’s a new year and I felt better today. I got to a slow start, but I’m in the groove now. It’s fun. A couple games I haven’t been ready, but I am ready now.”

Niles grabbed an early 10-5 lead and led 15-10 after one quarter.

Winchester-Jones scored six of Dowagiac’s 18 points in the second quarter as the Chieftains rallied to take a 28-25 lead at the half.

“We have been talking a lot,” Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt said. “He has put a lot of pressure on himself this year. All of the seniors that he played with his first two years are now gone. So he has put a lot of pressure on himself and he seemed to be trying to find his way the first five games.

“I think tonight he really started to figure it out. He was able to see times and space where he could take over. He showed up when we needed him to show up and I am proud of the job he did tonight.”

Winchester-Jones had just four points in the third quarter, all free throws, when Niles reclaimed the lead by outscoring the Chieftains 19-12.

But it did not take long for him to get involved in the final eight minutes and as a result the Chieftains improved to 6-1 heading into a showdown with Edwardsburg Friday night.

“What I say tonight gives me all the confidence that he will be where he needs to be when we need him,” Hunt said.

Dowagiac travels to Edwardsburg in a key Wolverine West Division contest at 7:15 p.m. Friday.