By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – Dontel Highsmith led a balanced scoring attack as the Dowagiac Middle School Black team defeated host Niles Ring Larder Thursday afternoon 40-33 in boys' basketball.
Highsmith tossed in 10 points to pace the Chieftains, who improved to 7-2 with the victory.
Brendon Murray added eight points, while Cal Cox scored five. Tyler Clark and Joe Pasternak both finished with four points for the Chieftains, who led from start to finish.
Niles' Anthony Bice, who helped lead a fourth quarter comeback for the Blue team, led all scorers with 18 points.
Ring Lardner also got five points from Rodney Applewhite and three points each from John Franklin and Arias Williams.
The Ring Lardner Gold squad was a 45-23 winner over the Chieftains on Thursday night.
Niles (6-2) got 10 points from Derek Scott and eight points from Alec Brown.
Cole Clemens and Brown both finished with eight rebounds, while Scott and Fritzel Findeisen each grabbed seven caroms.
Brown and Findeisen led Niles with six steals apiece.
Nate Michael's 12 points led Dowagiac. Herb Ward and An-teyon Russell both finished with four points.
Dowagiac is back in action on Monday when it faces St. Joe Upton.
The Ring Lardner Blue team will face Elkhart Northside on Monday, while the Gold team will take on John Young on Wednesday.
In seventh grade action Thursday afternoon, Ring Lardner swept Dowagiac.
The Niles Gold team posted a 49-5 victory over the Dowagiac's Black squad to improve to 7-2.
Jeremy Wortham had 12 points and Dustin Taggart 10 points for the Vikings, who also got seven points from Steve Smith.
Nick Knoll and Boston Hand both finished with eight rebounds.
Jason Webber scored four points for the Chieftains, while Kyle Tabbert had the other point.
The Niles Blue team edged Dowagiac 32-27.
Dowagiac got 12 points from Davion Highsmith and six points from Nate Lindsey.
Jesse Mast led the team in rebounds.