By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Despite a slow start, the Dowagiac varsity basketball team picked up its first victory of the 2006 season Thursday night against host Vicksburg.
The Lady Bulldogs (1-2, 0-1 Wolverine) jumped out to a 10-0 lead on the Chieftains.
Second-year coach Greg Blomgren called a time out and delivered a simple message to his squad.
"We told them they had to believe in themselves," Blomgren said. "We were on the verge of getting hammered tonight. Then we made a couple of plays and we just started to roll from there."
Dowagiac trailed Vicksburg 16-10 after the first eight minutes of play, but took control in the second period by outscoring the Lady Bulldogs, 24-11.
The Chieftains (1-2, 1-0 Wolverine) took a 34-27 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
Dowagiac outscored Vicksburg 36-21 in the second half to earn its first Wolverine Conference victory.
Junior Katy Stuppy led the way for the Chieftains as she scored a game-high 35 points. Stuppy canned five 3-pointers and was 14-of-20 from the free throw line.
Dowagiac also got 18 points from freshmen Torie Lowe.
Juniors Kristy Cooper and Beth Williams chipped in with seven and five points respectively.
Vicksburg got double-digit performances from Anna Clark (16) and P.J. Wright (17).
"Our confidence had been shaken after the first two games, there is no doubt about it," Blomgren said. "Maybe we should give more credit to those two teams because they are solid programs. Tonight we made some changes on defense to take advantage of our foot speed and our quickness. It worked out pretty well."
The Chieftain junior varsity squad was defeated by Vicksburg, 34-24.
Dowagiac is back in action on Tuesday night when it travels to South Haven for another Wolverine Conference contest. The varsity game is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.
DOWAGIAC 70
Holly Lowe 0 1-2 1, Jaskiran Kaur 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Truitt 0 0-0 0, Torie Lowe 5 4-5 18, Kristy Cooper 1 5-8 7, Beth Williams 2 0-0 5, Sada Nealey 0 2-2 2, Katy Stuppy 8 14-20 35, Katie Roach 1 0-0 2, Sara Ausra 0 0-0 0, Shardatsha Fitchett 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 26-37 70
VICKSBURG 48
Jasmine Harp 2 0-3 4, Anna Clark 5 5-7 16, P.J. Wright 6 0-0 17, Jamie Toepper 2 1-1 5, Ashley McCaw 1 0-0 2, Jessica Kuhlman 0 0-4 0, Sam Sparrow 0 0-2 0, Lindsey Leonard 2 0-0 4. Totals: 18 6-17 48
Dowagiac 10 34 57 70
Vicksburg 16 27 40 48
Three-point baskets: T. Lowe (D) 4, Williams (D), Stuppy (D) 5, Clark (V), Wright (V) 5. Total fouls: Dowagiac 17, Vicksburg 24. Fouled Out: None. Technical fouls: None. Varsity records: Dowagiac 1-2 (1-0 Wolverine); Vicksburg 1-2 (0-1 Wolverine). J.V. score: Vicksburg 34, Dowagiac 24