By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac hit 9 out of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to pull out a 55-47 Wolverine Conference win against visiting Allegan on Tuesday night.
The win kept Dowagiac a half a game ahead of Gull Lake in the league standings. The Chieftains improved to 13-3 overall and 12-2 in the league.
Dowagiac was never able to shake the pesky Tigers, who kept within striking distance until the closing stages of the contest.
Dowagiac connected on five of its final six free throw attempts in the last 58 seconds to put the game away.
Leading just 50-46 with 57.8 seconds remaining, senior Chris Primley stepped to the line and calmly sank a pair of free throws to increase Dowagiac's advantage to six points.
Allegan shaved a point off the Chieftains' lead, but Primley hit one of two charity stripe tosses to put the lead back up to six points.
Primley then sank two final free throws with 18.7 seconds left on the fourth quarter clock to complete the scoring.
Dowagiac coach Greg Blomgren was pleased with the offensive effort by the Chieftains against the tough Allegan man-to-man defense.
He was not very happy with Dowagiac's defense.
"I told the kids that offensively we are right where we need to be," he said. "But defensively will still have some work to do if we want to make a run in the post season."
As it did last Friday night against Gull Lake, Dowagiac led at every quarter break.
The Chieftains grabbed an 18-10 lead after one period of play, but had to settle for a 30-24 lead at the intermission after being outscored in the second quarter, 14-12.
Dowagiac and Allegan both scored 11 points in the third quarter, setting up an exciting final eight minutes.
The Chieftains maintained between a six and eight point advantage for most of the final period.
Allegan wouldn't let Dowagiac get any farther ahead and made things uncomfortable for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac made just two baskets in the fourth quarter, but were able to salt the game away at the free throw line.
"I thought overall, the effort, considering what we were up against tonight was good," Blomgren said. "I tried to emphasis to the kids, that this team tonight, Allegan, being two games back, were basically playing for its hope and chance at a conference championship. If they knocked us off they still had an outside chance of being involved in the conference championship."
Blomgren felt his team was a little flat to open the game, but once it got past that first three minutes, really hit its stride offensively.
Primley led the Chieftains in scoring with 16 points. Dowagiac also got 13 points from Amos Clark and 11 points from Jamie Simpson.
Oscar Wilson also reached double figures with 10 points.
Matt Smith led Allegan with 16 points.
He was the lone Tiger to reach double figures. Thom Monroe finished with nine points.
Dowagiac is back in action tonight as it hosts Comstock in a make-up contest. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Colts own the best record of the remaining teams on Dowagiac's schedule.
"You have to look at the fact that we are playing back-toback and the position we are in," Blomgren said. "Every night we play now, we are the team to beat in this conference. Teams are going to give us their best shot. Not only are we going to have to continue to play at a high level, but we are going to have to absorb the best that the other team has to offer every night the rest of the way."
ALLEGAN 47
Brad Wentzel 0 0-0 0, Tyler Raak 1 0-0 2, Adam Brown 3 1-2 7, Thom Monroe 3 1-2 9, Andre Jackson 2 1-3 5, Kyle VanderHulst 0 0-0 0, Matt Smith 8 0-3 16, Will Cook 2 4-4 8. Totals: 19 7-14 47
DOWAGIAC 55
Andrew Cuthbert 1 0-2 2, Jamie Simpson 3 3-4 11, Romero Reed 1 0-0 3, Oscar Wilson 4 2-2 10, Amos Clark 5 3-5 13, Chris Primley 6 4-6 16. Totals: 20 12-19 55
Allegan 10 24 35 47
Dowagiac 18 30 41 55
3-point baskets: Monroe (A) 2, Simpson (D) 2, Reed (D). Total fouls: Allegan 15, Dowagiac 12. Fouled out: Raak (A). Technical fouls: None. Record: Dowagiac 13-3, 12-2 Wolverine