For the first time this season, the Dowagiac girls basketball team had to figure out how to hold a lead in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.

Like much of the 2016-17 season has been, there was a learning curve for the Chieftains in their 62-40 rout of cross-county rival Cassopolis Tuesday night.

“We have not been in that position much,” said Dowagiac coach Brent Nate about playing with a big lead. “We have worked on it, but we have not been in that position much. The pace of the game was helter skelter the entire night. We talked about being in attack mode the entire time.”

Nate had trouble trying to get his team to work time off the clock in the final five minutes of the contest. Instead, his players continued to attack the basket and while they still were finding ways to score, they also gave the Rangers a chance to cut into the lead when those shots came up short.

But Cassopolis was unable to take advantage of those opportunities as it continually turned the ball over in its half-court offense.

“That was one of the few times we have had to play with a 12- to 14-point lead,” Nate said. “The closest they got I think was seven points and then we came down and hit a big three. Defense in the fourth quarter held them to three points.”

Early foul trouble plagued visiting Cassopolis throughout the non-league contest.

The Rangers racked up 23 fouls, which allowed the Chieftains to shoot 36 free throws.

On the flip side, Cassopolis went to the line just 14 times despite Dowagiac being assessed 20 fouls.

“It hurts when all of the starters are in foul trouble in the first quarter,” Cassopolis coach Janice Gatson said. “Foul trouble was the key to the defeat today.”

The Rangers struggled offensively in the first and fourth quarter as they totaled a combined seven points.

That allowed the Chieftains (4-15) to open up a 34-21 halftime lead.

Cassopolis (9-10) was able to whittle that advantage down to nine points (46-37) by outscoring the Chieftains 16-12 in the third quarter.

Dowagiac’s constant defensive pressure took its toll in the final eight minutes and the Chieftains stretched their advantage out to a 22-point victory.

Dowagiac finished the night hitting 22-of-36 free throws, while Cassopolis was 4-of-14 from the line.

The Chieftains also had two more baskets than the Rangers (17-15). Both teams hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Santaja Gibson led Cassopolis with 12 points, while Ky’ana Buck added eight and Kiersten Hartsell seven.

Dowagiac got 22 points from Amiyah Smith, who had 21 points in a losing effort for the Chieftains against Three Rivers Friday night.

Taylor Hulett added 19.

The Chieftains will wrap up the regular season tonight at South Haven for their Wolverine Conference crossover game.

 

DOWAGIAC 62, CASSOPOLIS 40

At Dowagiac

CASSOPOLIS 40

Angel Gary 5, Santaja Gibson 12, Kiearsten Hartsell 7, Eryn Forrest 0, Ky’ana Buck 8, Kayla Rowan 2, Madison Brooks 0, Kyrah Taylor 4, Sophie Fiala 2. TOTALS: 17 4-14 40.

DOWAGIAC 62

Tania Wilson 5, Taylor Hulett 19, Kellyn Daly 6, Taylor Pye 4, Lexi Martin 0, Amiyah Smith 22, Tamia Wilson 6, Micaela Ruff 0, Madison Potter 0. TOTALS: 19 22-36 62.

Cassopolis     4          21        37        40

Dowagiac       11        34        46        62

3-point baskets: Cassopolis 2 (Gary, Hartsell), Dowagiac 2 (Tan. Wilson, Hulett). Total fouls (fouled out): Cassopolis 24 (Fiala), Dowagiac 19 (none).

Varsity records: Cassopolis 9-10, Dowagiac 4-15.