By By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News
Top-ranked Benton Harbor was too much for Dowagiac Tuesday night in Big 16 Conference West Division play.
The Tigers, ranked No. 1 in Class A, outscored Dowagiac 46-15 in the first half en route to a 85-34 victory.
The Chieftains dropped to 0-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Big 16 West Division.
Dowagiac trailed 21-13 to Benton Harbor after one period of play and then were outscored 25-2 in the second quarter by the Tigers.
Any thoughts of a comeback were squashed in the third quarter as the Tigers outscored the Chieftains, 24-14.
Dowagiac continued to struggle offensively against a bigger and fast Benton Harbor squad.
The Chieftains managed just 14 field goals in the contest compared to 32 by the Tigers.
Benton Harbor had seven three-pointers on the night.
Dowagiac finished with five.
The Chieftains were 1-of-4 from the free throw line. Benton Harbor was 14-of-24 from the stripe.
Dowagiac shot 39 percent from the field (14-36), while Benton Harbor hit 52 percent of its attempts (32-62).
Benton Harbor also outrebounded the Chieftains, 36-19.
Dowagiac finished the game with 22 turnovers compared to just nine for the Tigers.
All-Stater Wilson Chandler led all scorers with 20 points. Chandler also had nine rebounds.
Joique Bell added 12 points, while Larry Edwards finished with 10 points.
Dowagiac was led by Michael DeRose who had 13 points and four rebounds.
Chris Primley finished with five points and four rebounds for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac returns to Big 16 Conference West Division play on Friday when it hosts Lakeshore.
Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.
The freshmen contest will kick off the evening at 4:15.
DOWAGIAC 34
Jamere Bacon 1 0-0 3, Chris Primley 2 1-2 5, Oscar Wilson 1 0-0 2, Amos Clark 1 0-0 3, Isaiah Jones 1 0-0 2, David Stuppy 2 0-0 4, Michael DeRose 5 0-0 13, Shawn Irvin 1 0-2 2. Totals: 14 1-4 34.
BENTON HARBOR 85
Rodney Alexander 3 1-1 7, Joique Bell 5 2-6 12, Wilson Chandler 8 4-6 20, Larry Edwards 4 0-0 10, Lonzale Hill 1 0-0 2, Jay McCree 3 1-1 9, Kayln Meeks 1 1-2 3, Andre Moore 0 2-2 2, James Payno 3 0-0 8, Marcus Parker 1 2-2 4, Justin Webb 2 1-2 6, Larry Word 1 0-0 2. Totals: 32 14-24 85.
Dowagiac 13 2 14 5 - 34
B. Harbor 21 25 24 15 - 85
Three-point baskets: Clark (D), Bacon (D), DeRose (D) 3, Edwards (BH) 2, McCree (BH) 2, Payno (BH) 2, Webb(BH). Total fouls: Benton Harbor 9, Dowagiac 19. Varsity records: Benton Harbor 3-0 , 1-0; Dowagiac 0-3, 0-2