By Staff
VICKSBURG – Visiting Dowagiac trailed from the outset and was never able to catch host Vicksburg in a 71-61 Wolverine Conference loss Tuesday night.
The Chieftain boys' basketball team trailed 22-13 after one period of play and remained down nine points at the intermission as both teams scored 15 points in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs (3-1) outscored Dowagiac (1-4, 1-3 Wolverine) 16-14 in the third quarter to up their advantage to 11 points (53-42) heading into the final stanza.
The Chieftains did outscore the Bulldogs 19-18 in the final eight minutes of play, but it was too little, too late.
Vicksburg's Kyle Johnson led all scorers with 20 points, while Brad Kosiba added 10 points for the Bulldogs.
Romero Reed paced a trio of Dowagiac players in double figures with 18 points.
Jalen Nickens and Brandon Douglas scored 15 and 11 points respectively for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac connected on nine 3-pointers in the contest, led by Reed with four. Nickens had three triples in a losing effort.
The Chieftains are back in action on Friday night as they host Allegan. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
DOWAGIAC 61
Greg Nelson 4, Brandon Douglas 11, Shaun Bruens 3, Romero Reed 18, Michael Filley 2, Jalen Nickens 15, Damon Huff 5, Drew Cooper 3. TOTALS: 25 2-7 61
VICKSBURG 71
Scotty Schimp 4, Dillon Callahan 2, Chris Chesser 6, Kyle Johnson 20, Tucker Callahan 4, Brad Kosiba 10, Drew Forsythe 2, Dan Schriemer 2, Sam Danielson 21. TOTALS: 32 4-11 71
Dowagiac 13 28 42 61
Vicksburg 22 37 53 71
3-point goals: Dowagiac 9 (Nickens 3, Reed 4, Bruens, Cooper), Vicksburg 3 (Johnson 3). Total fouls (fouled out): Dowagiac 11 (Nelson), Vicksburg 7 (none). Varsity records: Vicksburg 3-1, Dowagiac 1-4 (1-3)