Visiting Gull Lake dominated Dowagiac 63-15 in a match-up of Wolverine Conference schools.

Gull Lake (3-2, 3-1 Wolverine) scored at will and led 14-1 after three minutes as the Chieftains committed 16 turnovers in the first quarter and trailed 25-3 after eight minutes.

Senior point guard Kaisha Martin of Dowagiac missed the game, as she was on an official track visit to Grand Valley State University.

“We just didn’t execute like we should have even though we practiced for two days without Kaisha on Gull Lake’s press,” stated Dowagiac coach Emily McLoughlin. “We had a couple too many turnovers in the first half.”

Senior Breneesha Jones scored half of Dowagiac’s points at halftime as Gull Lake went into the locker room with a commanding 42-10 advantage.

The turnovers became fewer as each quarter passed by the Chieftains, but the precise passing of the Gull Lake offense showed why they were unbeaten last year and a formidable foe this campaign.

“A lot of these kids are back from the unbeaten team that went to the quarterfinals last year with a 24-1 record,” Gull Lake coach Mike Balcom proudly pointed out. “Each girl knows what to do with the ball and who to pass to if the shot is not there.”

The shots were falling as the Blue Devils made half of their 18 field goals and half of the 10 past the arc before intermission. Gull Lake showed how free throws should be shot with 9-of-11 being successful.

Seniors Claire Ranly and Megan Grimes were the leading scorers with 12 and 10 points respectively.

Shots attempted and turnovers each equaled a dozen for Dowagiac, but all five points in the second half were made at the charity stripe by Dowagiac as Gull Lake got a lot of experience for their substitutes.

“Gull Lake is solid with a very good all-around game and they are very well coached as we struggled playing them,” mentioned McLoughlin. “We have no games over the break, so we have a lot to work on.”

Nine players for the visitors reached the scoring column with Ranly (15) and Grimes (14) leading the way as the Blue Devils were perfect with all four free throws in the second half.

“We are getting better at the line after a slow start,” beamed Balcom. “Our philosophy is the team concept and our kids play that way very well.”

GULL LAKE 63

Claire Ranly 5 2-2 15; Megan Grimes 4 6-6 14; Amanda Haase 3 0-0 7; Mikelyn Hokenmaier 2 2-3 7; Abby Ahlert 2 2-2 6; Kelsey Adamski 2 0-0 5; Megan Loney 2 0-1 4; Emily Dewaters 1 1-1 3; Courtney Mast 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 22 13-15 63

DOWAGIAC 15

Breneesha Jones 2 1-6 6; Haley Pegan  1 1-2 3; Katie Lorenz 0 2-5  2; Carly Polomcak 1 0-0 2; Kelsie Primley 0 2-4 2. TOTALS: 4 6-17 15

Gull Lake 25 42 51 63

Dowagiac 3 10 11 15

3-point baskets: Dowagiac 1 (Jones); Gull Lake 6 (Ranly 3, Haase, Adamski, Hokenmaier). Total fouls: Dowagiac 9, Gull Lake 15.  Rebounding: Dowagiac 15 (Pegan 4), Gull Lake 23 (Grimes 6).  Turnovers: Dowagiac 38, Gull Lake 15. Shooting: Dowagiac  3-15, 1-6 3-pointers, Gull Lake  16-35, 6-16 3-pointers. Varsity records: Dowagiac 2-2, 2-2 Wolverine; Gull Lake  3-2, 3-1 Wolverine