DOWAGIAC — The host Chieftains jumped out to a quick start in the Class B semifinal on Wednesday (March 9) and held on for a 57-50 win over Edwardsburg in the second game of the semifinal twinbill.

Dowagiac captured the Class B District championship with a 72-56 win over Buchanan on Friday night.

The Chieftains raced out to an early 15-2 lead in the opening five minutes of the first quarter with their pressure defense and quickness on the offensive end. Darius Wilson was the spark plug for Dowagiac in the quarter scoring eight of his 12 points. Dontel Highsmith dropped in nine of his team-high 22 in the opening period for a 20-9 lead heading into the second quarter.

Edwardsburg got its offense going in the second quarter as Josh Kozinski netted 13 of his game-high 26 points in the period. The Chieftains kept pace with the Eddies and went into the locker room at the half with a 38-28 lead.

A sluggish third quarter by each team saw the Eddies shave two points off the Dowagiac lead outscoring the Chieftains 10-8 and head into the final eight minutes of the game down by eight.

Kozinski opened the fourth quarter with a four-point play, knocking down a 3-pointer and he was fouled on the shot. After hitting the free throw, the lead was cut to four 46-42.

The Eddies couldn’t get any closer as Highsmith heated up and Dowagiac went on a 9-2 run to stretch the lead back to 11 (57-46) with three minutes to play.

Kozinski added the final four points for the Eddies for the final score.

DOWAGIAC 57

Dontel Highsmith 8 4-5 22; Troy Butcher 0 0-0 0; Darius Wilson 6 0-0 12; Jason Turner 0 0-0 0; Chris Craft 0 1-2 1; Tremail Butcher 2 0-0 4; D.J. Hunt 3 0-0 8; Eric Charles 0 0-0 0 Brendon Murray 4 0-0 10. TOTALS 23 5 7 57

EDWARDSBURG 50

Josh Kozinski 7 9-9 26; Marcus Albrecht 5 2-2 12; Kyle Slack 2 0-0 4; Kyle Dale 4 0-1 8; Chad Tevlin 0 0-0 0; Matt North 0 0-0 0; Ethan Zimmerman 0 0-0 0; Dominic Razzano 0 0-2 0; Max Habicht 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 11-14 50

Edwardsburg 9 28 38 50

Dowagiac 20 38 46 57

3-point baskets: Edwardsburg3 (Kozinski 3), Dowagiac 6 (Hunt 2, Highsmith 2, Murray 2). Total fouls: Edwardsburg 12, Dowagiac 17. Fouled out: none. Varsity records: Edwardsburg 12-9, Dowagiac 16-6