By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
A 27-point second quarter lifted the Dowagiac varsity basketball team to a 71-42 Wolverine Conference victory over visiting Allegan on Thursday night.
The Chieftains hit 9-of-15 shots from the field in the second quarter as it turned a 12-4 lead after one period of play into a 39-17 halftime advantage.
Neither team shot the ball well in the opening eight minutes of the contest.
Dowagiac hit just 4-of-18 attempts from the field, while the Lady Tigers connected on just 2-of-15. The Chieftains held a 13-6 rebounding advantage in the first quarter, which helped in opening up an 8-point advantage by the end of the period.
Dowagiac (3-2, 3-0) could hardly miss a shot in the second quarter as it exploded for 27 points. The Chieftains used a back door cut against the Allegan defense to score numerous easy baskets.
The Lady Tigers continued to struggle from the field as they hit just 3-of-11 shots. Allegan also committed eight of its 13 first half turnovers in the second stanza.
Dowagiac's 22-point lead at halftime (39-17) quickly evaporated as Allegan came out of the locker room fired up.
The Lady Tigers whittled the lead down to 14-points midway through the third quarter before the Chieftains regrouped and reclaimed control of the tempo.
Dowagiac took a 50-30 lead into the final eight minutes of play.
After hitting just 4-of-14 attempts in the third period, the Chieftains again caught fire in the fourth quarter.
Dowagiac poured in 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field.
The Chieftains maintained a comfortable lead throughout the final eight minutes and eventually emptied their bench.
The Chieftains were 25-of-64 from the field and 15-of-18 from the free throw line. Dowagiac outrebounded Allegan 27-26. The Chieftains committed 16 turnovers compared to 27 for the Lady Tigers.
"Tonight was a better style for us," Dowagiac coach Greg Blomgren said. "We can get up and down the floor and that's the style we would prefer to play. Our shot selection was good tonight. Of the five games we have played this season, I would say our shot selection was as good as it has been. We shared the ball well tonight."
Junior guard Katy Stuppy scored a game-high 24 points to the lead the Chieftains, who also got 14 points from freshman Torie Lowe and 13 points from senior Holly Lowe. Junior Beth Williams added seven points. Shardatsha Fitchett finished with five points.
Abby Arado's 12 points led Allegan. She was the lone Lady Tiger to reach double figures. Paige Barnhardt finished with nine points.
The Chieftains are back in action next Thursday when they travel to Comstock for another Wolverine Conference clash.
ALLEGAN 42
Paige Barnhardt 4 0-0 9, Lisa White 0 0-0 0, Carly Stone 0 0-0 0, Kylee Porterfield 0 0-0 0, Kristin Forstner 0 0-0 0, Andrea Simonds 1 0-2 2, Kaitlind O'Reilly 1 0-0 2, Abby Arado 4 4-4 12, Anna Erickson 2 0-0 5, Ashley Payne 0 0-0 0, Heather Scofield 1 0-0 2, Megan Byers 1 2-4 5, Lindsay Simonds 1 3-3 5. Totals: 15 10-13 42
DOWAGIAC 71
Beth Williams 3 0-0 7, Holly Lowe 4 3-4 13, Jaskarin Kaur 0 0-0 0, Lindsey Truitt 0 0-0 0, Torie Lowe 5 3-4 14, Kristy Cooper 0 3-4 3, Sada Nealey 2 1-1 5, Katy Stuppy 9 4-4 24, Katie Roach 0 0-0 0, Sara Ausra 0 0-0 0, Shardatsha Fitchett 2 1-1 5. Totals: 25 15-18 71
Allegan 4 17 30 42
Dowagiac 12 39 50 71
Three-point baskets: Barnhardt (A), Erickson (A), Byers (A), Williams (D), H. Lowe (D) 2, Stuppy (D) 2. Total fouls: Allegan 16, Dowagiac 15. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Record: Dowagiac 3-2, 3-0 Wolverine Conference)