Plainwell played well enough Tuesday night to beat host Dowagiac in a Wolverine Conference girls’ basketball game 40-31.

After a scoreless first three minutes, senior Trojan Samantha Hartman broke up the shutout after a trio of turnovers, compared to seven by the Chiefs.

Senior Katie Lorenz connected on a 3-pointer with 3:10 clock on the clock, which was the initial shot by any Dowagiac player after 11 miscues on offense to cut the six-point Plainwell lead in half.

The first quarter ended with an 11-3 Trojan advantage and the closest Dowagiac (4-9, 4-7) would get would be 13-7 with five minutes left before halftime after consecutive baskets by junior Regina Kennedy and senior Kaisha Martin.

“I am very pleased with the learning process of these girls after losing three players that averaged double figures last year,” commented Plainwell coach Tim Rieman. “We are averaging 30 turnovers a game and feed our offense through the mistakes of the other team.”

Plainwell (10-4, 9-4) led 23-12 at intermission with Hartman leading all scorers with seven points. Lorenz led Dowagiac with six points.

Martin and classmate Haley Pegan caused some Plainwell offensive mistakes in the second half with steals and blocks, respectively.  Lorenz again scored the first basket after over five minutes of playing time in the third quarter and Dowagiac trailed 34-20 heading to the fourth quarter.

“Plainwell is a good team, but we didn’t play well,” stated Dowagiac coach Emily McLoughlin. “Haley (Pegan) is playing better the last four or five games, but she needs to get her confidence going on offense.”

Martin scored on a driving lay-up on the first possession of the final quarter and converted three more field goals after thefts that gave her 17 points to lead everybody in scoring with Lorenz hitting another shot past the arc for a total of nine points.

Eight players from Plainwell scored with sophomore Melanie Hyames and Hartman falling one short of double figures with nine points apiece.

Plainwell was also a victor in the junior varsity game by a score of 32-24 with Shelby Hubbell of the Trojans and Dowagiac’s Rachel Bailey collected 10 points apiece.

PLAINWELL 40

Samantha Hartman 4 0-0 9; Melanie Hyames 3 3-6 9;  Katelyn Nuyen 3 0-3 7; Olivia Reed 3 0-0 6; Kristen Graves 1 0-0 3; Molly Meddock 1 0-0 2; Carlee Pallett 1 0-0 2; Teresa Thiel 0 2-2 2; Alyssa Adams 0 0-2 0. TOTALS: 16 5-13 40

DOWAGIAC 31

Kaisha Martin 7 3-5 13; Katie Lorenz 3 0-0 9; Regina Kennedy 2 0-2 4;  Haley Pegan 0 1-4 1. TOTALS: 12 4-11 31

Plainwell 11 23 34 40

Dowagiac 3 12 20 31

3-point baskets: Plainwell 3 (Nuyen, Hartman, Graves); Dowagiac 3 (Lorenz 3). Total fouls: Plainwell  11, Dowagiac  13.  Rebounding:  Plainwell 23 (Hartman 8), Dowagiac 28 (Pegan and Martin 6). Varsity records: Plainwell 10-4, 9-4 Wolverine; Dowagiac 4-9, 4-7  Wolverine

Dowagiac…70

Plainwell…52

PLAINWELL — Visiting Dowagiac erased an 18-9 first quarter deficit en route to a 70-52 Wolverine Conference boys’ basketball victory Tuesday night.

The Chieftains, who dropped two straight over the weekend, rebounded with its ninth victory of the season. Dowagiac is now 8-5 on the season.

After the Trojans (9-5) doubled up the Chieftains in the opening quarter, Dowagiac outscored Plainwell 19-4 in the pivotal second period to take a 28-22 halftime lead.

Dowagiac outscored Plainwell 42-30 in the second half to pull away to the easy victory.

Dontel Highsmith tossed in a game-high 20 points for the Chieftains, who also got 17 points from Tremail Butcher and eight points each from Chris Craft and Darius Wilson.

Adam Meier led the Trojans with 13 points. Justin DeBruyne added 10 points.

DOWAGIAC 70

Dontel Highsmith 20, Troy Butcher 4, Craig Zebell 2, Jason Turner 0, Chris Craft 8, Tremail Butcher 17, D.J. Hunt 3, Darius Wilson 8, Tyler Clark 6, Eric Charles 2. TOTALS: 33 12-18 70

PLAINWELL 52

Justin DeBruyne 10, Kyle Farris 2, Andrew Urban 7, Zach Verhage 1, Mason Gnostrey 4, Jack Conklin 9, Konner Westerhouse 2, Tyler White 4, Adam Meier 13. TOTALS: 26 3-11 52

Dowagiac 9 28 53 70

Plainwell 18 22 35 52

3-point baskets: Dowagiac 8 (Highsmith 2, Craft 2, Tre. Butcher 3, Clark), Plainwell 3 (DeBruyne 2, Urban).