By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.
The Dowagiac varsity basketball team gave it all they had Tuesday night in its Big 16 Conference West Division match up against visiting Benton Harbor.
But in the end the Lady Tigers had too much talent, size and speed for the Chieftains.
Benton Harbor defeated Dowagiac 83-46 to drop the Chieftains to 2-7 on the season and 0-3 in the West Division.
Dowagiac played well enough in spurts to keep the game close for much of the first half and well into the third quarter.
The Chieftains cut the lead to 19 points in the third quarter, but a 10-0 Benton Harbor run ended any chance of a Dowagiac comeback.
The Lady Tigers got off to a fast start, outscoring Dowagiac 20-10 in the opening eight minutes.
Dowagiac was outscored 17-8 in the second quarter, however, most of those points came in the final three minutes to help Benton Harbor open up a 37-18 halftime lead.
Both teams lit up the scoreboard in the third quarter as they combined for 41 points.
The Lady Tigers held a 22-19 scoring edge in the third period to extend their lead to 59-37.
Dowagiac was no match for Benton Harbor in the final eight minutes, being outscored 24-9.
Benton Harbor shot the ball well all night, but were red-hot in the second half. The Lady Tigers finished the night shooting 56 percent from the field (30-of-54).
Benton Harbor hit 15-of-23 shots from the floor in the second half.
Dowagiac struggled from the floor most of the night, shooting just 26 percent from the field for the contest (11-of-42).
Both teams shot the ball well from the free throw line as the Lady Tigers were 20-of-30. Dowagiac was 20-of-28 from the charity stripe.
One of the keys to the lopsided victory was Benton Harbor's total domination on the glass.
The Lady Tigers outrebounded Dowagiac 39-21.
Dowagiac, which will host Niles in another Big 16 West Division match up on Thursday, had 23 turnovers compared to 18 for Benton Harbor.
Sophomore Katy Stuppy led all scorers with 26 points. Stuppy was 14-of-17 from the free throw line.
Holly Lowe added nine points for the Chieftains. Kristy Cooper finished with four points. Sarah Ostyn grabbed four rebounds to lead the Chieftains.
Benton Harbor placed all five starters in double figures led by Destiny Williams' 19 points.
Courtney Web finished with 18 points, while Charonne Coleman had 14, Shante Clark 13 and Tashayla Jackson 12 points.
BENTON HARBOR 83
Charonne Coleman 5 4-5 14, Courtney Webb 7 2-3 18, Tashayla Jackson 3 5-6 12, Shante Clark 4 5-6 13, Destiny Williams 8 3-4 19, Timisha Napier 2 1-2 5, Meri Napier 0 0-4 0, Jaleesa Johnson 0 0-0 0, Trinka Boatright 1 0-0 2. Totals: 30 20-30 83
DOWAGIAC 46
Kim Luthringer 1 0-0 2, Holly Lowe 3 1-3 9, Amy Wood 0 0-0 0, Katy Stuppy 5 14-17 26, Kristy Cooper 1 2-2 4, Sarah Ostyn 0 0-1 0, Joylynn Hawkins 1 0-0 2, Amber Clark 0 1-2 1, Katelyn Roach 0 2-2 2, Sarah Ausra 0 0-1 0, Becky Cleveland 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 20-28 46
Benton Harbor 20 37 59 83
Dowagiac 10 18 37 46
Three-point baskets: Webb (BH) 2, Jackson (BH), Lowe (D) 2, Stuppy (D) 2. Total fouls: Benton Harbor 19, Dowagiac 23. Fouled out: Clark (BH), Amber Clark (D). Technical fouls: Timisha Napier (BH), Benton Harbor (coach).
Varsity record: Dowagiac 2-7, 0-3 SMAC West Division