By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

Solid outside shooting by host Niles helped lift the Vikings to a 62-42 Big 16 Conference West Division victory over St. Joseph Friday night in boys’ basketball.

The Vikings honored their two seniors before the game and David Garner and Mitch Peterek aided in the victory.

Despite an off night, Garner finished with 10 points.

The Vikings (14-4, 7-1 West) doubled up the Bears in the opening quarter 24-12, but had to withstand a St. Joseph rally in the second quarter.

The Bears got the lead down to eight points late in the opening half before Quintin Irby’s rebound basket staked the Vikings to a 10-point bulge heading to the locker room.

Niles came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half and once again doubled up the Bears, this time 20-10.

That advantage allowed the Vikings to take a 20-point lead (55-35) into the final quarter.
“We thought we were going to have to make some shots this week to win,” Niles coach Todd Pawielski said. “We felt is St. Joe went into a zone that we were going to make the shots that we needed. It was nice to see them go in, especially early.”

Both teams struggled offensively in the final eight minutes and each squad finished with just seven points in the scoring book.

Niles was able to finish strong in each of the first three quarters, which seem to frustrate the Bears.

“We finished real well probably in three quarters tonight,” Pawielski said. “That’s always such a big lift.”

With Garner held to just 10 points, Niles looked to other players to pick up the slack and several did.

Myles Busby led the Vikings with 13 points, while Austin Parks finished with 11 and Matthew McLaughlin eight.

The Vikings also got a couple of 3-pointers off the bench from Taylor Campbell.
“Taylor Campbell is getting better and better,” Pawielski said. “I thought Myles Busby was real good all night tonight, very consistent. Matthew McLaughlin hit some shots early.”

The Bears were led by David Brennan’s 10 points.

He was the lone St. Joseph player to reach double figures.

Niles will wrap up the home portion of its regular season Tuesday night when it hosts Kalamazoo Loy Norrix.

ST. JOE 42
Christopher Pfahler 0 0-0 0; Nicholas Piggee 1 2-2 4; Jeremy Rush 2 0-0 4; Joshua Schaffer 1 0-0 3; DaVonte Piggee 1 0-0 3; Joshua Akins 2 0-0 5; Joshua Fagras 0 0-0 0; Steven Ross 0 0-0 0; DeVonte Jones 1 0-0 2; David Brennan 3 4-4 10; Sean Guinane 3 0-0 6; Matthew Riemland 2 0-0 5. TOTALS: 16 6-6 42
NILES 62
David Garner 3 4-9 10; Taylor Campbell 2 0-0 6; Austin Parks 5 0-0 11; Matthew McLaughlin 3 1-1 8; Riley Robson 0 0-0 0; Myles Busby 4 4-5 13; Justin Potthoff 0 0-0 0; Nick Lucero 2 0-0 4; Jordan Potthoff 1 0-0 3; Quintin Irby 1 3-4 5; Mitch Peterek 1 0-0 2.TOTALS: 22 12-19 62

St. Joe 12 25 35 42
Niles 24 35 55 62
3-point baskets: St. Joseph 4 (Schaffer 1, D. Piggee 1, Akins 1, Riemland 1), Niles 6 (Campbell 2, Parks 1, McLaughlin 1, Potthoff 1). Total fouls: St. Joe 14, Niles 12. Fouled out: Akins (SJ). Varsity records: St. Joe: 9-9, 4-4 West; Niles 14-4, 7-1 West