By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Holly and Torie Lowe will only get to play one season together, but the two have created a lifetime of memories this year.
The sisters have helped Dowagiac erase decades of frustration for its girls' basketball program.
Dowagiac posted its first winning season since the mid-1990s by going 14-6. The Chieftains captured their first conference championship since 1984.
And tonight, Dowagiac will begin its quest to win a district championship – something that hasn't happened since 1977.
While the two admit they are pretty fierce competitors, they have been able to enjoy their first season of organized basketball together.
Because Holly is a senior and Torie is a freshman, the two have had to play on different teams growing up.
Both spent a tremendous amount of time honing their skills, both in the backyard, and on the court playing AAU basketball.
When asked how it felt to play on the same team after all these years, both agreed it was a little strange at the beginning. They also admitted that it has been something they hoped would happen eventually.
"I've been looking forward to it," Holly said of playing with Torie.
"I am very fortunate to get to play with her on the same team," Torie noted.
By being able to share their experiences this season, the two sisters said that this year has been special.
"This feels better than winning in softball because nobody expected us to do this," Holly said.
"It's been a great first year. To come in and win a conference championship is great," Torie added.
Holly had to miss three games this season with a sore knee. It was tough for both players to deal with.
"It was painful to sit there and watch from the bench, but we were winning, so that helped," Holly said.
"I could tell she was really upset," Torie said. "It was hard to watch her sit there because I know how much this means to her."
The two sisters may not always agree on everything, but they both said that they wanted to win a league title this season.
And now, they both want to win a district championship as well.
(Second of two parts)