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DOWAGIAC — On a night when its leading scorer was a bit off and it was playing without a starter, Dowagiac needed its other players to step up in its Lakeland Conference girls basketball game against visiting Berrien Springs.

Dowagiac was able to avoid the Shamrocks’ upset bid as Marlie Carpenter, Rebecca Guernsey, Faith Green and Damia Brooks combined to score 33 points in the Chieftains 49-46 victory. The win improved Dowagiac to 2-1 in conference games and 6-2 overall.

With starter Audrey Johnson out due and Maggie Weller held to just 12 points, Dowagiac used a combination of its starts and bench players to offset the play of Berrien Springs’ Aubric Smith and Addison Frakes, who combined for 38 of the Shamrocks’ 46 points.

Dowagiac led 12-8 after one quarter and 33-18 at halftime, thanks mainly to the outside shooting of Green and the inside scoring of Carpenter. Green connected on a trio of 3-pointers for her total of nine points in the opening half, while Carpenter finished with 10 points.

Weller, who still led the Chieftains with 12 points, hit a 3-pointer at the end of the opening half for her first points of the contest. She her other nine points consisted mainly of free throws, which helped Dowagiac maintain its advantage. She finished the night 3-of-4 from the line.

Berrien Springs (2-4, 0-3 Lakeland) made a run at the Chieftains in the second half.

The Shamrocks outscored Dowagiac 10-4 in the third quarter to cut their deficit to nine points (37-28) and then held an 18-12 advantage in the final eight minutes to keep the pressure on.

The Chieftains got a big 3-pointer from Guernsey and a key basket by Brooks to hold off Berrien Springs.

Green ended the night with nine points, Brooks eight and Guernsey six.

Dowagiac was scheduled to return to action Tuesday against Our Lady of the Lake, but that non-conference contest was postponed as frigid temperature and wind chills have kept schools in southwest Michigan closed.

The Chieftains are scheduled to take on Buchanan in Lakeland Conference action Thursday.

 

Boys Basketball

Host Dowagiac was able to stick with Berrien Springs for one quarter Monday night, but the Shamrocks took control of the Lakeland Conference contest in the second quarter and went on to an easy 75-32 victory.

The Chieftains (5-6, 1-3 Lakeland) and Shamrocks (5-3, 2-2 Lakeland) exchanged baskets in an entertaining offensive display in the opening eight minutes of the contest.

Leading 18-16 after one, Berrien Springs outscored Dowagiac 24-8 in the second quarter to open up a 42-24 halftime advantage.

The Chieftains never recovered and were outscored 33-8 in the second half as they dropped their third consecutive game.

Lamone Moore Jr. led Dowagiac with 14 points, while Isaiah Fitchett added 11 points. Gianni Villalobos, the Chieftains’ leading scorer, was held to six points.

JJ Frakes had a game-high 25 points for the Shamrocks.

Dowagiac heads to Buchanan Friday night for another Lakeland Conference contest. Its non-league game against Our Lady of the Lake, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed due to weather.