By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
The Niles varsity basketball team remains unbeaten after disposing of Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West Division foe Benton Harbor Tuesday evening.
The Vikings, ranked No. 3 in Class B, improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in West Division play with a 66-52 victory at Farnum Gym. The Tigers fall to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the SMAC West.
Niles uses a balanced offensive attack to do away with the Tigers. Brandie Radde led all scorers with 18 points for the Vikings. Melissa Olsen and Ashley Spriggs each added 11 with Olsen registering a double-double with 12 rebounds as well as five assists and four blocked shots. Kate Whittaker pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with seven points. Jessica Johnson and Sarah Dreher also scored seven points apiece.
Junior point guard Amber Peters had two points, three assists and three steals before leaving the game with a sprained ankle in the third quarter.
Tashayla Jackson and Natilla Clark led Benton Harbor with 12 points apiece.
The Niles junior varsity basketball team beat the Tigers 60-40 led by Jessica Shinsky's 17 points.
The Niles freshmen basketball team beat Benton Harbor 44-28 for its first win of the season.
Niles………………..66
Benton Harbor….52
Niles: Ashley Pingel 0 3-4 3, Amber Peters 1 0-0 2, Jessica Johnson 3 1-4 7, Leigh Tyler 0 0-0 0, Brandie Radde 7 3-3 18, Sarah Dreher 2 3-5 7, Kate Whittaker 3 1-2 7, Colombe Martin 0 0-0 0, Melissa Olsen 4 3-4 11, Ashley Spriggs 1 8-8 11. Totals: 21 22-30 66
Benton Harbor: Tashayla Jackson 4 0-0 12, Charonne Coleman 2 4-4 9, Natilla Clark 4 3-11 12, Ebony Whitfield 3 0-0 6, Latisha Finley 0 0-0 0, Latisha Glass 0 0-0 0, Shaunte Clark 2 0-2 4, Donella Hines 4 1-4 9. Totals: 19 8-21 52
Niles 20 16 19 11--66
B. Harbor 14 13 10 15--52
3-point shooting: Niles 2 (Radde, Spriggs), Benton Harbor 6 (Jackson 4, Coleman, Clark). Team fouls (fouled out): Niles 17 (Olsen), Benton Harbor 20 (none). Team records: Niles 8-0 (3-0 SMAC West), Benton Harbor 4-2 (2-1)