From staff reports

PORTAGE – The Niles basketball team rebounded from Tuesday night’s loss to knock off host Portage Central Thursday night 60-38.

The Vikings and the Mustangs will play a return engagement on Monday night in the opening round of the Class A District Basketball Tournament.

The game was close for one quarter as the two teams were deadlocked at 9-9.

But Niles broke open the game in the second quarter by outscoring Portage Central 16-6 to open up a 25-15 halftime advantage.

From there it was all Vikings. Niles scored 35 points in the second half while holding the Mustangs to 23.

David Garner scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Vikings, who also got nine points from Quintin Irby and seven points from Austin Parks.

Portage Central was led by Brandon Wall’s 15 points.

Niles will take a 15-5 record into the post season. Portage Central is 4-16 on the year.

NILES 60
David Garner 23, Matthew McLaughlin 6, Austin Parks 7, Jordan Potthoff 5, Mitch Peterek 4, Quintin Irby 9, Riley Robson 2, Nate Lucero 4. TOTALS: 20 18-22 60
PORTAGE CENTRAL 38
Ian Ryder 5, Monty Porter 4, Tyler Timmerman 2, Kyle Cutler 1, Zach Alkhamis 2, Brandon Wall 15, Andrew Galer 7, Dhananjay Adusimlli 2. TOTALS: 16 4-6 38

Niles 9 25 41 60
Portage Central 9 15 27 38
3-point baskets: Niles 2 (Potthoff, Parks), Central 2 (Ryder, Galer). Totals fouls: Niles 12, Portage Central 17. Fouled out: None. Varsity records: Niles 15-5, Portage Central 4-16

Brandywine…41
Coloma…54
COLOMA – Host Coloma broke open a close game in the second half and pulled away to a 54-41 Lakeland Conference win over Brandywine Thursday night.

The loss leaves the Bobcats with a 5-15 overall record heading into next week’s Class C district tourney, which it will host.

Brandywine (1-11 Lakeland) led 11-7 at the first break, but found itself trailing 19-17 at the intermission.

The Comets held a 35-24 scoring advantage in the second half.

Lance Prescott and Cody Udell scored 14 and 12 points respectively for the Bobcats.

Same Swihart had 12 points to lead the Coloma.

Brandywine will host Bridgman Monday night in its district opener.

BRANDYWINE 41
Lance Prescott 14, Cody Udell 12, Dustin Sater 3, Austin Searles 3, Mykal Toxopeus 2, Joe Godfrey 3, Aaron Marquardt 4. TOTALS: 17 5-9 41
COLOMA 54
Sam Swihart 12, Dan Vollrath 5, Chad Herman 3, Deidrick Swanigan 6, T.J. Scott 9, Tyler Dye 2, Cortez Childs 17. TOTALS: 19 14-15 54

Brandywine 11 17 28 41
Coloma 7 19 33 54
3-point baskets: Brandywine 2 (Vollrath, Herman), Coloma 2 (Sater, Searles). Total fouls (fouled out): Brandywine 15 (none), Coloma 11 (none). Varsity records: Coloma 8-12, 4-8 Lakeland; Brandywine 5-15, 1-11 Lakeland

Edwardsburg…50
Buchanan…58
BUCHANAN – The Bucks will head into the post season on a positive note as it knocked off Lakeland Conference foe Edwardsburg Thursday night 58-50.

The win gives Buchanan a 12-8 overall record heading into Monday night’s Class B District Tournament opener. The Bucks finished their conference season with an 8-4 mark.

The Eddies also wrap up the regular season at 12-8. Edwardsburg went 6-6 in league games.

Richie Reed scored 16 points to lead Buchanan, which also got 14 from Daniel Blackwell and Jalen Brown.