By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
For one quarter Thursday night the Dowagiac varsity basketball team followed coach Joe Spitale's game plan to a tee.
The Chieftains held Niles to just six points and trailed the No. 3 ranked Lady Vikings, 6-4.
Then came the second quarter.
Niles outscored Dowagiac 55-14 over the final three periods of its Big-16 Conference West Division contest to score a 61-18 victory.
Dowagiac (0-7, 0-4) has struggled throughout the season in the third quarter. The same was true Thursday night as Niles outscored Dowagiac 24-5 to take a commanding 45-14 lead entering the final period.
The Lady Vikings settled down, clamped down on the Chieftains defensively and turned the game into a rout.
Dowagiac turned the ball over just 11 times in the opening half, but committed 19 turnovers in the final 16 minutes to contribute to lopsided loss.
Niles (9-0, 4-0) sophomore Sarah Dreher really picked up the slack for the loss of standout Amber Peters to an ankle injury. Peters injured her ankle Tuesday night in the Vikings' 66-52 win over Benton Harbor.
Dreher led all scorers with 19 points.
Niles also got 12 points each from sophomore Brandie Radde and senior Ashley Spriggs.
Dowagiac had just three players score in the contest as Brittney Reist led the way with nine points. Brianne Reist finished with six points and Holly Lowe three.
NILES 61
Brandie Radde 5 0-0 12, Jessica Johnson 3 1-3 7, Melissa Olsen 2 0-0 4, Sarah Dreher 4 9-12 17, Ashley Spriggs 5 2-2 12, Ashley Pingel 0 0-0 0, Kate Whittaker 1 0-0 2, Leigh Tyler 1 0-0 2, Colombe Martin 2 1-2 5, Megan Scameheorn 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 13-19 61.
DOWAGIAC 18
Brittney Reist 4 0-0 9, Brianne Reist 1 4-6 6, Jennifer Pilot 0 0-0 0, Brittany Winters 0 0-0 0, Ashley Brewer 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Fryman 0 0-0 0, Holly Lowe 1 0-0 3, Valerie Johnson 0 0-0 0, Amy Wood 0 0-0 0, Kim Luthringer 0 0-0 0. Totals: 6 4-6 18.
Niles 6 15 24 16 -- 61
Dowagiac 4 5 5 4 -- 18
Three-point baskets: Niles 2 (Radde), Dowagiac 2 (Brittney Reist and Holly Lowe). Total fouls: Niles 7, Dowagiac 13. Fouled out: None.