First-year Dowagiac girls basketball coach Floyd Foston has got to figure out a way to get his team to translate what they do in practice into a game situation.

Foston knows that his team is capable of playing better than it did Friday night in a 46-22 Wolverine Conference West Division loss to South Haven.

Simple, fundamental mistakes keep costing the Chieftains (0-6, 0-3 West) the opportunity to compete for their first win of the season.

“Fundamentals, our mind set, I don’t think we are mentally ready to play,” Foston said. “Our defense is still not where it should be. Until those things change, this is going to be the result.”

Dowagiac played its first game without starter Ciera Smith, who injured her knee in the los to Vicksburg Tuesday night. Smith with have further tests done on her knee this week.

“We miss Ciera, but you know, we have got to go with what we got,” Foston said. “They all practice. We go over things, but we have to get to the point where can implement what we do in practice into game situations.”

Dowagiac led 7-6 after the first quarter, but never really was in the game after that.

South Haven took advantage of numerous physical and mental mistakes by the Chieftains to outscore them 10-4 in the second quarter to take a 16-11 lead at the half.

The Rams (2-4, 1-2 West) continued to build on their lead throughout the second half. South Haven held a 37-19 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.

Shelby Frederick had a game-high 22 points to lead the Rams, who also got 16 points from Meagan Spears and 11 points from Bobbie Goodwin.

Rayven Brown paced the Chieftains with 10 points. Brianna McCuddy added four and Riley Daley three.

 

SOUTH HAVEN 46

Meagan Spears 16, Tanea Whitfield 2, Katie Corona 4, Bobbie Goodwin 11, Shelby Frederick 22. Totals: 21 3-8 46

DOWAGIAC 22

Crieona Rodgers 1, Kylee Williams 2, Amanda Craft 2, Rayven Brown, 10, Brianna McCuddy 4, Riley Daly 3. Totals: 8 4-11 22

 

South Haven 6 16 37 46

Dowagiac 7 11 19 22

3-point goals: South Haven 1 (Goodwin), Dowagiac 2 (Rayven Brown). Total fouls (fouled out): South Haven 10 (none), Dowagiac 10 (none). Varsity records: South Haven 2-4, 1-2 Wolverine West; Dowagiac 0-6, 0-3 Wolverine West