By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

It’s becoming a trend for Niles sophomore Austin Parks.

For the third time in the last four games, Parks had hit as least one 3-pointer in the closing stages of a game to lift the Vikings to victory.

Friday night it was a triple with 52.7 seconds remaining that sealed a 58-50 Big 16 Conference non-divisional victory for Niles over visiting Portage Northern.

In a game that was physical to a point of nearly getting out of hand late in the third quarter, the Huskies and the Vikings battled tooth and nail.

Both teams made runs in the game and appeared to be taking control of the game. Neither team was able to do so until the Vikings pulled away in the final 2:45.

Portage Northern led at the end of each of the first two quarters.

The Huskies had just a one-point advantage each time and couldn’t find a way to put some distance between themselves and Niles.

So after being down 26-25 at the intermission, the Vikings came out and turned up the defensive effort in the third quarter.

Using a 9-0 run in the period, the Vikings were able to turn that deficit into a 41-35 lead heading to the final quarter.

Portage Northern came back on the Vikings and the lead traded hands a few times before the contest was tied at 47-47 with 2:05 to play following a bucket by the Huskies’ Jonathan Keizer.

From there, Niles took over.

David Garner, who sparked the third quarter run, canned a pair of free throws with 1:23 showing on the clock to make it a 49-47 contest.

The Huskies hit just one of two free throws at the other end to close within one, but then Parks buried a wide open 3-pointer to extend the lead to 52-48.

Niles used the free throw line as its friend in the final 40 seconds of the game to salt away the victory.

The Vikings were 10-of-12 in the fourth quarter from the charity stripe.

Garner led all scorers with 23 points. He also had four steals. Myles Busby chipped in with 10 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists, while Parks, Matthew McLaughlin and Quintin Irby all had eight points.

Keizer had 14 points to lead the Huskies. Kyle Darling finished with 10 points.

Niles is back in action on Friday night when it hosts Mattawan in a West Division clash.

The Vikings will make up their non-league game with South Bend Clay on Saturday night.

PORTAGE NORTHERN 50
Jesse Franks 4 0-0 9; Z.Penn 1 2-3 4; Chris Laneaux 2 0-0 4; Rasheed Caper 0 0-0 0; Nick Labus 0 0-0 0; Nathan Adlam 0-0 2; Jonah Friedman 0 0-0 0; Kyle Darling 3 3-3 10; Jonathan Keizer 7 0-2 14; Allen Whitley 3 1-2 7. TOTALS: 21 6-10 50
NILES 58
David Garner 8 5-8 23; Taylor Campbell 0 0-0 0; Austin Parks 3 0-0 8; Matthew McLaughlin 1 5-6 8; Myles Busby 2 5-6 10; Nick Lucero 0 1-2 1; Jordan Potthoff 0 0-0 0; Quintin Irby 3 2-2 8; Mitch Peterek 0 0-3 0. TOTALS: 17 18-27 58

Northern 13 26 35 50
Niles 12 25 41 58
3-point baskets: Portage Northern 2 (Franks 1, Darling 1), Niles 6 (Garner 2, Parks 2, McLaughlin 1, Busby 1). Total fouls: Portage Northern 21, Niles 15. Fouled out: None.