DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac boys basketball team is starting to get back on track.

After having its seven-game winning streak snapped by Edwardsburg, the Chieftains have won back-to-back games, including a 71-47 Wolverine Conference South Division victory over visiting Vicksburg Friday night.

Dowagiac got off to a quick start, leading 18-7 after one quarter, but hit a cold spell with its shooting in the second quarter, which allowed the Bulldogs to cut the lead to 33-25 at halftime.

The Chieftains (11-5, 6-1 Wolverine South) got hot again in the second half and pulled away to the easy win.

“We started off good, but then we got out of sync offensively and went into a lull,” said Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt.

Dowagiac used its defense to get its offense going in the second half.

“We were able to pick it up defensively and get a few easy baskets to get it going again in the second half,” Hunt said. “That really kind of propelled us to getting the win. I think we are ready to turn the corner. There are a few things we need to clean up.”

One of those things is free throw shooting. Dowagiac was 15-of-24 from the line against Vicksburg.

“That has kind of been our Achille’s heel,” Hunt said. “We have not shot the ball well from the free throw line. But we are working on it every day, and hopefully, we can get over the hump, and we will be ready come tournament time.”

Trae Brookins led a balanced Dowagiac attack with 14 points. D.J. Lanier added 13, and Dashawn Brooks added 12 points.

Levi Root had 13 points for the Bulldogs.

Dowagiac is back on the court tonight as it hosts Berrien Springs in a non-conference contest.

Girls basketball

Dowagiac continued to struggle offensively in its 47-23 loss to Vicksburg Friday night.

Dowagiac had just eight points at halftime as the Bulldogs blew the game open early.

“Tonight, we struggled to put the ball in the basket,” said Dowagiac coach Jason Turner. “Defensively, we held them to four points in the third quarter. That is very promising.”

Turner is hoping to work on a few things before the end of the tournament begins that the Chieftains can carry over into next year.

“Going into our last three regular-season games, we want to try and build confidence offensively and continue focusing on our defensive concepts,” he said.

Makayla Hill and Martha Schaller both had eight points for Dowagiac. 

The Chieftain travel to Three Rivers on Friday.