DOWAGIAC — File this one under be careful what you wish for — you might get it.

Cassopolis coach Ricky Evans has been trying to get Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt to put his Ranger boys basketball team on the schedule.

Hunt had been hesitant to do so because he would rather play a team like the Chieftains might face in the postseason.

Evans wanted to the same thing for his team.

Cassopolis finally got on Dowagiac’s schedule Tuesday night, but Evans may be regretting that decision following a 77-41 blowout by the Chieftains, who have now won four consecutive games after starting the season 2-4.

The four losses on Dowagiac’s record have all come at the hands of ranked teams — Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids Union, Otsego and Lakeshore. The combined record of those four opponents is 34-3.

One of the main reasons that the Chieftains have won four straight games is the play of senior D.J. Lanier, who scored a game-high 30 points against the Rangers Tuesday night. In the last five games, Lanier is averaging a shade over 20 points per contest.

Against the Rangers, Dowagiac was able to force numerous turnovers with both its full- and half-court pressure defenses. The result was a fast-paced game and plenty of easy scoring opportunities for the Chieftains off of Cassopolis’ mistakes.

“You cannot win games turning the ball over, and that is what we did all night,” Evans said. “Dowagiac played a good game, but we hurt ourselves. We just turned the ball over too much.”

Hunt knew it was only a matter of time before Lanier stepped up.

“D.J. is staring to emerge,” Hunt said. “I think since he has relaxed and started to let the game come to him a little bit, he is starting to find it a little easier. That makes it easier for the guys to pick up right behind him. Now that he is doing that, we are rolling.”

Lanier’s career-best game follows up a 24-point performance against Vicksburg last Friday night, which kept the Chieftains atop the Wolverine Conference South Division standings. He also scored 24 points against Lakeshore on Jan. 7.

Lanier said the team is starting to come together. He also said believing in himself has also helped.

“A lot of confidence,” he said about the recent scoring outburst. “We just have been working on our chemistry. We have been talking a lot more outside of practice and games. Getting together more than usual and communicating better.”

Lanier noted that the team lacked a bit of leadership earlier in the season. He takes responsibility for that problem, as he is the team’s top returning scorer and a four-year starter.

“Earlier in the year, I was slacking at the beginning of the season in picking up that role,” he said. “Now, I am all for it.”

Lanier said the team noticed that getting off to slow starts and not playing with emotion was costing them.

“We notice coming out flat was not helping us,” he said. “So, you have to change. We decided to bring the energy. I do not think anyone can match our energy.”

And just how big has the basket looked during the past five games?

“It looks like a laundry basket,” Lanier said.

While the Chieftains were able to get its top player involved at the offensive end, the Rangers struggled to get theirs, senior Darrion Gatson, going, especially in the first half.

“You cannot get him going when you are turning the ball over,” Evans said.

Gatson, who had 36 points recently against Bloomingdale and 26 points against Eau Claire last Friday night, finished with 16 points to lead the Ranges.

R.J. Drews added 14 points.

Dowagiac led 14-6 after one quarter and 32-23 at halftime. The Chieftains would outscore the Rangers 45-18 in the second half, including 23-9 in the fourth quarter.

Besides Lanier, the Chieftains also got 16 points from Trae Brookins off the bench. Cailyn Murphy added 12 points and 21 rebounds for Dowagiac.

The Rangers have to regroup in a hurry as they host Marcellus in a key Southwest 10 Conference game Friday night.

Dowagiac will host Three Rivers in a Wolverine Conference South Division contest on Friday.