It was senior night at Niles High School on Thursday night where the Vikings honored their four senior veteran players — Riley Robson, Zachary Prenkert, Nicholas Lucero and Jordan Potthoff — while celebrating by rolling past the visiting Beavers of Battle Creek Harper Creek 72-45.

The first quarter saw the Vikings jump out to a 4-0 lead on back-to-back baskets by Taylor Campbell and Zak Prenkert. Harper Creek would answer back with seven straight points to take the 7-4 lead.

A 3-point basket by Matthew McLaughlin tied the game at seven, and after a free throw for the Beavers, Lucero knocked home two points to give Niles the 9-8 advantage. A three by Cody Callahan gave the visitors the 11-10 lead after one period.

From the start of the second quarter it was all Niles.

Prenkert started the scoring for the Vikings with a basket, followed by fellow senior Robson to give the home team the 14-11 edge.

With the slight advantage, Niles would connect on a 3-point basket by Miles Busby, followed by Lucero and Austin Parks with back-to-back threes to extend the lead to 23-12.

Five straight points from McLaughlin opened the lead up to 28-12 with only a minute remaining in the half.

After a basket by Campbell increased the lead to 30-13, Lucero was fouled shooting a three sending him to the free throw line with just 2.3 seconds left. He connected on two of the three, and then got fouled on the ensuing inbounds play, sending him to the line for two more.

In the meantime, Harper Creek coach, Matt Bowling received a technical foul for arguing the call. Lucero would knock down one of two and Campbell would miss both of the technical shots as Niles would head to the locker room holding a 33-14 advantage.

“We were awful from the line in the first half going 7-of-18, we had the chance to put this one away early if we could have made some free throws, but I thought the kids kept battling and they played hard,” said Niles coach Todd Pawielski. “We only gave up three points in the second quarter.”

After trailing by one heading into the second quarter, Niles outscored the Beavers 23-3 in the second quarter.

After the break, the Vikings would continue their hot shooting as they knocked in twenty more points, on their way to a commanding 53-28 lead with just eight minutes left to play.

The final period was much of the same as the Vikings would increase their lead to 28 points, leading 66-38 with 3:25 remaining.

Pawielski allowed his seniors one last ovation from the crowd as he would sub them out one at a time, over the remaining minutes, as Niles rolled to the 72-45 drubbing.

“We played with great intensity tonight, I thought we rebounded the ball very well. We played great defense, and we made a lot of shots, so overall it was a great game, but especially for our seniors,” said Pawielski.

Lucero paced the Vikings with 16 points, McLoughlin chipped in 13, followed by Busby with 9, Prenkert with 8, Parks and Campbell with 6 each, and Logan Harpenau with 5.

Harper Creek was lead by their own senior, Kenny Bass with 12 points.

Niles will travel to face Portage Central on Monday night in the first round of the Class A District tournament.

HARPER CREEK 45

K. Carson 0 0-2 0; T. Rowe 0 0-0 0; J. Bernig 1 0-0 2; K. Bass 5 3-6 14; K, Smith 2 1-2 6; D. Keclar 0 1-2 1; J. Smith 2 1-1 5; M. Bailey 1 1-2 3; Q. Armstrong 2 2-3 5; C. Callahan 2 3-5 9. TOTALS: 15 10-20 45

NILES 72

Myles Busby 3 1-2 9; Matthew McLaughlin 5 3-3 15; Austin Parks 2 0-1 5; Logan Harpenau 1 0-0 2; Riley Robson 1 0-0 2; Zak Prenkert 4 0-4 8; Nick Lucero 3 5-7 14; Jordan Potthoff 0 0-0 0; Taylor Campbell 3 0-2 6; Quintin Irby 0 3-4 3; Brandon Partee 0 1-2 1; Rodney Applewhite 1 1-1 3. TOTALS: 24 14-26 72

Harper Creek 11 14 28 45

Niles 10 33 53 72

3-point baskets: Harper Creek 4 (Bass, K. Smith, Callahan 2), Niles 10 (Busby 2, McLaughlin 2, Parks 2, Lucero 3). Total foules: Harper Creek 20, Niles 20. Fouled out: Bailey (HC). Varsity record: Niles 15-5