By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
The Niles varsity basketball team completed an undefeated Big-16 West Division season Tuesday night with a 50-32 win at St. Joseph.
The Vikings, now 16-3 overall, host Battle Creek Central Thursday night in a Big-16 challenge game.
Defense carried the Vikings as no St. Joseph player reached double figures. Carlee Maddox, who was averaging 13 points per game for the Bears, was held to five.
Amber Peters paced Niles offensively with 15 points to go along with three assists and three steals. Brandie Radde added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Melissa Olsen came up big as well with six points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots.
Niles hosts the Class B District Tournament next week and will be seeking its seventh straight district title.
The Vikings open the tournament Monday night at 6 p.m. against Coloma. Berrien Springs and Dowagiac will square off 20 minutes after the first game Monday night.
St. Joseph awaits the Niles-Coloma winner for a 6 p.m. semifinal contest Wednesday night. Lakeshore will take on the Dowagiac-Berrien Springs winner in the second game Wednesday night.
The championship game is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m.
Niles…………50
St. Joseph….32
Niles: Ashley Pingel 2 1-2 6, Amber Peters 6 2-2 15, Jessica Johnson 1 3-4 5, Leigh Tyler 0 0-0 0, Brandie Radde 3 4-4 11, Sarah Dreher 1 2-4 4, Kate Whittaker 0 0-0 0, Colombe Martin 0 1-2 1, Melissa Olsen 2 2-4 6, Ashley Spriggs 1 0-0 2, Megan Scameheorn 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 15-22 50
St. Joseph: Jessica Kish 1 3-3 5, Rachel Young 3 0-1 6, Kari Anderson 1 0-0 2, Megan Mejeur 3 1-1 7, Mary Schueneman 0 1-2 1, Anna Schueneman 0 0-0 0, Sarah Lund 1 0-0 2, Kristen Hunnell 2 2-4 6, Carlee Maddox 2 1-2 5. Totals: 13 8-15 32
Niles 10 16 12 12--50
St. Joseph 7 7 6 12--32
3-point shooting: Niles 3 (Pingel, Peters, Radde), St. Joseph none. Team fouls (fouled out): Niles 13 (none), St. Joseph 15 (none). Team records: Niles 16-3 (8-0 Big-16 West), St. Joseph 12-7 (4-4)