With the post season a week away, the Wolverine Conference will wrap up its play Thursday with crossover games.

Dowagiac (0-8) will head to South Haven (0-8) for its crossover game, which is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.

Edwardsburg (8-0) will travel to Otsego (7-1) to play for the Wolverine Conference championship. The Eddies are the South Division champions and Otsego the North Division champs.

The Chieftains concluded their Wolverine Conference schedule with a 45-37 loss to visiting Three Rivers Friday night.

Three Rivers (7-11) defeated Dowagiac 60-14 in their first meeting Jan. 20.

First-year Coach Brent Nate is pleased with the improvement his squad showed.

“We are closing the gap,” he said. “The first time we played them they dominated the game, but we did not feel we gave our best effort. Tonight we wanted to try to redeem ourselves on our home court. Tonight was about pride.”

Dowagiac (3-15) was outscored 32-19 in second and third quarters of the contest and were not able to overcome that deficit in the final eight minutes of play.

The Chieftains and Wildcats were deadlocked at 7-7 after the first quarter.

Three Rivers took a 24-17 lead into the locker room at halftime and opened up a 39-26 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Dowagiac had its opportunities to make a run at Three Rivers late in the game.

The Chieftains cut the lead to seven points twice in the final minute, but could not get a shot off to cut even further into the Wildcats’ lead.

Dowagiac sophomore Amiyah Smith had a big night for the Chieftains as she poured in a game-high 22 points.

Kellyn Daly and Taylor Hulett finished with seven and six points respectively.

The Wildcats were led by Rhyeli Krause’s 16 points. Hadley Miller added 14.

Dowagiac plays host to Cassopolis in its home finale Tuesday night.

 

WOLVERINE CONFERENCE

GIRLS BASKETBALL

North Division

Otsego                         7-1

Plainwell                    6-2

Allegan                       4-4

Paw Paw                    3-5

South Haven            0-8

 

South Division

Edwardsburg             8-0

Vicksburg                   5-3

Three Rivers              4-4

Sturgis                        3-5

Dowagiac                  0-8

 

Thursday’s games

Dowagiac at South Haven, 7:15 p.m.

Edwardsburg at Otsego, 7:15 p.m.

Vicksburg at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m.

Sturgis at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m.

 

THREE RIVERS 45, DOWAGIAC 37

At Dowagiac

THREE RIVERS 45

Arionne Fowlkes 4, Cara Smith 0, Hadley Miller 14, Morgan Schneider 0, Rhyeli Krause 16, Libby Judsen 0, Althea Kiser 0, Tessa Hawkins 0, Izzy Taylor 4, Diamond Carter 7. TOTALS: 17 6-15 45.

DOWAGIAC 37

Tania Wilson 0, Taylor Hulett 6, Kellyn Daly 7, Taylor Pye 2, Amiyah Smith 22, Tamia Wilson 0, Micaela Ruff 0. TOTALS: 14 8-16 37.

 

Three Rivers             7   24    39    45

Dowagiac                   7   17     26    37

3-point baskets: Three Rivers 5 (Miller, Krause 4), Dowagiac 1 (Daly); Total fouls (fouled out): Three Rivers 18 (none), Dowagiac 16 (Hulett).