The holiday break is over and it’s time to get back to work for the Dowagiac athletic programs.

The girls’ basketball team returns to the hardwood tonight as it hosts Class A power Niles in a non-conference doubleheader.

The JV squads will get the evening started with a 5:45 p.m. tip-off. The varsity contest will follow at approximately 7:15 p.m.

On Wednesday the Chieftain wrestling team, which finished seventh at the Comstock Invitational last Thursday, will travel to Constantine for a non-league match beginning at 6 p.m.

The freshmen and JV boys’ basketball teams will compete against visiting Three Rivers in their first games of 2011.

The freshmen game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. with the JV game to follow at 6:15.

Dowagiac’s JV girls’ team will travel to Three Rivers for a 5:45 p.m. contest.

Both varsity squads will play at Three Rivers on Friday night. The girls game begins at 6 p.m. and the boys game at 7:15 p.m.

The busy first week of the new year will wrap up on Saturday with the Dowagiac wrestling team taking part in the Edwardsburg Invitational. Wrestling is set to begin at 9 a.m.