By Staff
COMSTOCK – Amos Clark's game-high 26 points led the Dowagiac varsity basketball team to its first victory of the season Friday night.
The Chieftains outscored the host Colts 28-22 in the second half to pull out a 52-46 victory in the Wolverine Conference opener for both schools.
"Amos has been great to start off the year, Dowagiac coach Greg Blomgren said. "Over the past two years, playing against the teams in the SMAC (Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference) and having to run the types of offenses we had to use, he has learned a lot. He's played under control the first two games and made great decisions. When he has taken shots, he has made them."
Dowagiac grabbed a 13-10 lead after one period of play, but were tied with the Colts at halftime (24-24) despite Clark's 19 first half points.
Dowagiac outscored Comstock 15-12 in the third quarter to reclaim the lead. The Chieftains took a 39-36 lead into the final eight minutes. Dowagiac held a three-point scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to pull away to the six-point win.
Dowagiac hit just 17-of-47 field goal attempts and were 13-of-22 from the free throw line. Comstock connected on 19-of-49 field goal attempts, but hit just 11-of-28 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Chieftains outrebounded the Colts 26-25. Dowagiac had just nine turnovers compared to 13 for Comstock.
Andrew Cuthbert finished with 11 points and five rebounds for the Chieftains, who also got six points and six rebounds from Chris Primley. Jamie Simpson contributed four points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Bobbie Patton led Comstock (0-2, 0-1 Wolverine) with 14 points. Nate White finished with 11 points.
"We're excited to start off in the Wolverine Conference with a win, especially on the road against an upper half team," Blomgren said. "Comstock is one of the teams that are supposed to be one of the top four or five teams.
"You look at our defense, it has been solid the first two games," Blomgren noted. "I think that is what has kept us in the first two games. We held Lakeshore to 54 points and we held Comstock to 46 points Friday night. That's a great start for us."
Dowagiac (1-1, 1-0 Wolverine) is back in action on Tuesday night when it opens the home portion of its schedule against visiting Plainwell. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
DOWAGIAC 52
Chris Primley 2 2-4 6, Jamie Simpson 2 0-2 4, Amos Clark 9 4-4 26, Andrew Cuthbert 2 7-10 11, Oscar Wilson 2 0-2 5, Shaun Bruens 0 0-0 0, Romero Reed 0 0-0 0, Chuck Mersereau 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 13-22 52
COMSTOCK 46
Nate White 5 1-2 11; Tyler Burke 2 0-0 6; Bobbie Patton 5 3-4 14; David Oliphant 2 0-0 4; Sam Stephens 3 0-0 7; Chris Perin 0 0-0 0; Shaun Heard 0 0-0 0; Joey Huizar 0 0-0 0; Jeremy Followell 1 0-0 3; Chance Brown 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 4-6 46
Dowagiac 13 24 39 52
Comstock 10 24 36 46
3-point baskets: Burke (C) 2, Patton (C), Followell (C), Wilson (D), Clark (D) 4. Total fouls: Comstock 15, Dowagiac 7. Fouled out: Stephens (C). Record: Dowagiac 1-1, 1-0 Wolverine; Comstock 0-2, 0-1 Wolverine