By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - Visiting Sturgis avenged a loss at the hands of Dowagiac Friday night by working a little overtime.
The Trojans, 51-47 upset losers to Dowagiac 10 days ago, outscored the Chieftains 7-6 in overtime to come away with a 43-42 Big 16 Conference Challenge Game victory.
Sturgis' Raju Armster hit one of two free throws with one second remaining in overtime to give the Trojans the victory.
Armster missed the second free throw attempt, however, Dowagiac was unable to do anything more than heave the ball toward its own basket as time expired.
Dowagiac (2-18) trailed 12-0 to start the game, but slowly worked its way back into the contest and eventually tied the game at 36 with 10 seconds remaining in regulation on a three-pointer by Michael DeRose.
The Chieftains trailed 36-33 following a free throw by Zach Gentile with 21 seconds remaining. Gentile missed his second free throw attempt which left the door open for Dowagiac.
DeRose grabbed the rebound and eventually took a pass from Jamere Bacon which led to the game-tying triple.
Despite the quick start, Sturgis only led 15-9 after one period of play as Dowagiac outscored the Trojans 9-3 in the final four and a half minutes of the opening quarter.
Neither team played well in the second and third quarters as the combined for nine points in the second period and 13 points in the third quarter.
Dowagiac outscored Sturgis 17-9 in the fourth quarter to force the extra session.
Armster finished with 10 points to lead the Trojans, who also got nine points from Bo Felt and eight points from Patrick Hall.
Bacon and DeRose each scored a game-high 11 points, while Chris Primley finished with nine points.
STURGIS 43
Zach Gentile 0 4-6 4, Patrick Hall 2 4-5 8, Raju Armster 3 3-5 10, Bo Felt 4 1-2 9, Jeff Kolzow 2 0-0 4, Shawn Jernagan 1 0-0 2, Kevin Krizan 2 2-4 6. Totals: 14 14-22 43
DOWAGIAC 42
Isaiah Jones 0 0-0 0, Jamere Bacon 4 2-2 11, Jamie Simpson 0 0-0 0, Michael DeRose 4 0-0 11, Chris Primley 3 3-6 9, David Stuppy 0 0-0 0, Amos Clark 1 0-0 2, Oscar Wilson 1 0-0 2, Ken Franz 1 0-0 2, Jesse Cox 1 1-2 3, Shawn Irvin 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 6-10 42
Sturgis 15 20 27 36 43
Dowagiac 9 13 19 36 42
Three-point baskets: Armster (S), Bacon (D), DeRose (D) 3. Total fouls: Sturgis 12, Dowagiac 20. Fouled out: DeRose (D). Technical fouls: None.