The Dowagiac boys basketball team is undefeated this season, but it has not been easy.

The Chieftains have struggled in its last four games and had to pull out wins in the fourth quarter or overtime.

But the 7-0 Chieftains have continued to find a way each night to remain undefeated.

Last Friday night against Edwardsburg, Dowagiac turned to its bench to spark the team, which was struggling at both ends of the court against the Eddies.

One of those players who helped Dowagiac pull out a 61-55 overtime win against Edwardsburg was 6-foot-3 junior Adrien Bucha-Moore.

Dowagiac coach Danum Hunt pulled his starters in the second and third quarters in hopes of turning around the fortunes of his team.

It worked exactly the way Hunt wanted it to as Dowagiac was able to stick with the Eddies in the first half and then close the gap in the third quarter.

Bucha-Moore scored four points during his time on the floor and his defense helped turn the tied against the Eddies.

“Adrien has the potential to be a really good player,” Hunt said. “We brought him up last year as a sophomore for a few games, but he wanted to go back to the junior varsity to continue to work on his game. And he did just that.”

That work has paid off as Bucha-Moore is usually one of the first players off the bench.

“As he gains more confidence I expect him to get better and better,” Hunt said. “Going into next year he is going to be one of our main guys.”

Bucha-Moore was pleased with performance Friday night.

“Coach asked me to step up, so I went out there and did what I had to do,” he said. “There was a little big more pressure because we were trailing, but I had to find a way to step up and I did.”

The junior forward is not satisfied with just coming off the bench when called upon. He has a bigger goal in mind.

“I want to work my way into the starting lineup,” Bucha-Moore said.