By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

PORTAGE – At no point in Friday night’s district final at Portage Central High School did the Niles boys’ basketball team look intimidated.

Despite Kalamazoo Central’s sparkling 21-1 record, three consecutive district titles, freakish athleticism, suffocating full-court trap defense and it distinct size and quickness advantage, the Vikings looked confident through most of the game.

In fact, Niles played the No. 3-ranked Maroon Giants close for most of the first three quarters.

But with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter and momentum beginning to swing in Niles’ favor, Myles Busby missed a runout layup with no K-Central defender near him that would have brought the Vikings within three points.

The play seemed to awaken the sleeping Maroon Giants, as K-Central went on a 7-2 run to close the quarter to open up a 37-27 lead.

The Vikings were able to stay within striking distance until midway through the final quarter.

“We were down nine with five minutes left to play (in the third quarter) and we turned it over four straight times,” Niles coach Todd Pawielski said. “And that’s too much to recover from.”

Those four turnovers led to five straight K-Central points, including a throwdown by Dayton University-bound Devin Oliver that sent the Kalamazoo fans into a frenzy.

The Giants (22-1) closed out the game on a 14-3 tear that ended a solid season for the young Niles (17-6) squad.

The Vikings got out of the gate strong and was able to break the aggressive K-Central trapping defense to open up a 14-9 first quarter lead.

The Giants offense found its rhythm in the second quarter battling back to take a 19-16 lead into the locker room.

Turnovers were the difference in the second half, according to Pawielski.

“We just stressed passing the ball and attacking the rim, and we were marginally successful in the first half,” Pawielski said about handling K-Central’s attack ‘D.’ “We turned it over too much in the second half. In the fourth quarter … they’re just awfully good. And they showed it.”

Oliver, who had several razzle dazzle plays, including an alley-oop dunk, led K-Central with 13 points and seven boards. T.J. Buchanan gutted out an early ankle injury to drop 11 points for the Giants.

Niles was again led by senior David Garner with 12 points, despite playing with foul trouble through most of the second half.

“David Garner has had a sparkling career,” Pawielski said. “Kids like him don’t come around very often.”

Busby, who struggled with foul trouble throughout, was held to three points but pulled down six rebounds for the Vikings.

Sophomore Matthew McLaughlin, who scored nine points and played physical defense against players with a significant size advantage, earned his coach’s praise after the game.
“Matthew McLaughlin was awesome tonight,” Pawielski said. “We wouldn’t be anywhere near where we’re at without his toughness and intelligence. He is a terrific point guard.”

It’s sophomores like McLaughlin, Busby and sharpshooter Austin Parks that have Pawieiski looking forward to making another run next year.

“We’re awfully young. We have 17 wins with only two seniors,” Pawielski said. “It was very gratifying for us to win the SMAC West at 6-1. We’re going to try to be greedy and do the same thing next year.”

NILES 36
David Garner 5 2-6 12; Austin Parks 1 0-0 3; Matt McLaughlin 3 0-0 9; Myles Busby 1 1-2 3; Nick Lucero 1 2-2 4; Quinton Irby 1 0-0 2; Jordan Pothoff 1 0-0 3.
KALAMAZOO CENTRAL 53
Daquavion McCants-Wilson 3 0-0 6; T.J. Buchanan 5 0-0 11; Devin Oliver 6 1-1 13; Tyler Bell 3 0-0 6; Dyland Hughes 2 3-4 7; Angelo Griffis 1 1-2 3; Darius Norman 3 1-2 7

Niles 14 16 27 36
Central 9 19 37 53
3- point baskets: Niles 4 (McLaughlin 3, Parks 1); Kalamazoo Central 1 (T.J. Buchanan). Varsity Records: Kalamazoo Central 22-1, Niles 17-6