By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Niles' girls' basketball team will finish the regular season Thursday at Battle Creek Central in a Big 16 Conference crossover game.
The Vikings will travel to Battle Creek to take on the Bearcats of the SMAC's Central Division.
Niles is currently in first place in the Big 16 West Division with a 16-2 overall record and a 6-1 record in the division.
Dowagiac will cap off the regular season on Thursday with a rematch against Sturgis.
The Chieftain girls' basketball team will play host to the Lady Trojans in a Big 16 Conference crossover contest.
Dowagiac and Sturgis played a classic overtime contest last Thursday with the Chieftains coming out on top 58-57 for its sixth victory of the season.
Dowagiac outscored Sturgis 6-5 in the extra session to pick up their third overtime victory of the season.
Dowagiac will also play at home on Tuesday night when Benton Harbor comes to town for the final Big 16 Conference West Division contest of the 2004 season.
Both contests this week will be tripleheaders with the freshmen games slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.
The Chieftains are currently fourth in the Big 16's West Division.
Dowagiac will then set its sights on hosting the Class B District Basketball Tournament which begins on Monday, Nov. 15.
The host Chieftains drew St. Joseph in the second game on Nov. 15, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
In the first game of the opening round, Niles will take on Berrien Springs at 6 p.m.
The winner of the Dowagiac-St. Joseph contest will advance to the semifinals, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Coloma, which received a first round bye, will take on the Dowagiac-St. Joe winner at 6 p.m.
Lakeshore will face the Niles-Berrien Springs winner on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
The championship game is set for Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
In other crossover contests on Thursday, Marshall will travel to Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Benton Harbor will travel to Mattawan and Battle Creek Lakeview will travel to Kalamazoo Central.
Also on tap for Thursday are Portage Central at St. Joseph, Portage Northern at Battle Creek Harper Creek and Coldwater at Lakeshore.