Dowagiac snaps losing streak against Shamrocks
Published 10:34 pm Friday, December 6, 2013
Dowagiac’s Ciera Smith hauls in a rebound in the Chieftains’ 41-32 win over Berrien Springs Friday night. Smith led all scorers with 17 points. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
The wait is over.
Second-year Dowagiac girls basketball coach Floyd Foston watched his team defeat visiting Berrien Springs 41-32 in a Wolverine Conference West Division match Friday night.
The Chieftains’ victory was the first for Foston as Dowagiac went 0-21 his first season. It was also only the third victory in a little more than two seasons for the Chieftains, who were 2-19 in 2011-12.
“It feels really good,” Foston said. “You look to get that first win to get the monkey off your back. I think that is going to be a huge shot to their confidence.”
Dowagiac, which opened the season with a loss to Buchanan Tuesday night, opened up the game against the Shamrocks on an 11-0 run.
The Chieftains (1-1, 1-0 West) led 15-5 after one quarter, but the Shamrocks (0-2, 0-1 West) were not just going to roll over for Dowagiac.
Berrien Springs outscored Dowagiac 12-10 to cut the lead to eight at halftime (25-17) and 8-7 in the third quarter to close the gap to 32-25.
Dowagiac rebuilt its lead and led by 11 points with just over a minute to go before a couple of late baskets allowed the Shamrocks to cut it back down under double digits.
Ciera Smith led all scorers with 17 points, while Rayven Brown added 10 and Crieona Rodgers six.
Gabrielle Yankee paced Berrien Springs with 12 points.
BERRIEN SPRINGS 32
Jesse Farraht 4, Micah Davis McCree 6, Ja’nya Burton 0, Madison Cautas 8, Gabrielle Yankee 12, Meagan Diedrich 2, Callie Staub 0. TOTALS: 8 14-20 32
DOWAGIAC 41
Crieona Rodgers 6, Taylor Hulett 4, Angel Parker 0, Jenesis Green 0, Alyssa Allen 0, Mara Nelson 0, Rayven Brown 10, Riley Daly 2, Zaccyah Bacon 0, Ciera Smith 17, Dorisha McNeal 0. TOTALS: 17 6-11 41
Berrien 5 17 25 32
Dowagiac 15 25 32 41
3-point baskets: Berrien Springs 2 (Cautas 2), Dowagiac 1 (Brown). Total fouls (fouled out): Berrien Springs 13 (None), Dowagiac 21 (None). Varsity records: Berrien Springs 0-2, 0-1 West, Dowagiac 1-1, 1-0 West. JV score: Dowagiac 41 (Asryia Geegan 17), Berrien Springs 34 (Amanda Farraht 12)
