By Staff
A second-half defensive change allowed the Niles basketball team to overcome a two-point halftime deficit and post a 60-47 victory in its season opener against Gull Lake Thursday night.
Niles broke out of the gate quickly behind the hot shooting of sophomore Sarah Dreher as the Lady Vikes raced to a 21-14 first-quarter lead. A cold-shooting second quarter combined with nine turnovers saw the Lady Vikes' lead evaporate as they fell behind 29-27 at halftime.
A defensive switch by Niles to start the second half turned up the defensive pressure and turned the halftime deficit into a 10-point third quarter lead.
Brandie Radde and Kate Whittaker stepped up on offense in the second half for the Lady Vikes. Radde finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Dreher added nine points and a game-high nine rebounds. Whittaker helped out with eight points and six rebounds.
Point guard Amber Peters contributed in a number of ways with eight points, 11 assists, six steals and four rebounds.
As a team, the Lady Vikings blocked 10 shots. Whittaker and Melissa Olsen had three each. Dreher blocked two shots while Radde and freshman Colombe Martin each had one.
Niles is back in action Wednesday at Comstock before hosting Lakeshore Thursday to open the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West Division season.
Niles………..60
Gull Lake….46
Niles: Ashley Pingel 1 0-0 2, Amber Peters 4 0-0 8, Jessica Johnson 3 0-3 6, Leigh Tyler 0 0-0 0, Brandie Radde 7 2-2 17, Sarah Dreher 4 1-4 7, Kate Whittaker 4 0-0 8, Colombe Martin 0 0-0 0, Melissa Olsen 2 0-0 4, Ashley Spriggs 3 0-0 6. Totals: 28 3-11 60
Gull Lake: Danie Schurr 0 2-3 2, Monica Gooch 1 0-0 2, Cati Gallagher 3 1-2 6, Ashley Mellema 1 0-2 2, Megan Vrobel 1 0-1 2, Autumn Charnley 5 0-2 11, Lindsey Deyo 4 0-2 8, Christina Edwards 4 3-1 11. Totals: 19 6-18 46
Niles 21 6 14 19--60
Gull Lake 14 15 8 9--46
3-point shooting: Niles 1 (Radde), Gull Lake 2 (Gallagher, Charnley). Team fouls (fouled out): Niles 16 (none), Gull Lake 10 (none). Team records: Niles 1-0, Gull Lake 1-1