By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Monday night's 61-20 victory over Coloma in the first round of the Class B District Tournament was exactly what Niles basketball coach Jim Arnold wanted.
The score wasn't necessarily the biggest victory for the Vikings either. Just playing the game was what Arnold was excited about.
With the easy win Monday night, the Vikings, now 18-3, advanced to Wednesday's semifinal game against St. Joseph at 6 p.m. at Niles High School. Dowagiac, a 50-37 winner over Berrien Springs Monday night, will take on Lakeshore in the other semifinal game Wednesday.
The Lady Vikings jumped on the Comets quickly, taking a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes and leading 19-4 at the end of the first period. Coloma committed nine turnovers in the first quarter, thanks in part to heavy defensive pressure from Niles.
The Vikings made their first 13 free throws and finished 13-of-18 from the charity stripe in the first half. Niles made 21-of-23 free throws in the game.
With a 38-12 lead at halftime that quickly stretched to a 40-point margin, activating the mercy-rule running clock, the Viking starters got plenty of time resting on the bench. Arnold was glad for the chance to let his first team relax.
Only one player reached double figures in scoring for Niles. Brandie Radde led all scorers with 12 points. Twelve different players scored for the Vikings.
Niles outrebounded the Comets 40-30, led by Kate Whittaker's 12 rebounds.
The Vikings swept the two regular-season meetings with St. Joseph, beating the Bears (13-7) by scores of 56-36 and 50-32.
Those two lopsided wins, however, are not enough for Arnold to overlook Wednesday's semifinal game.
Niles……..61
Coloma….20
Niles: Jessica Johnson 2 3-4 7, Ashley Spriggs 0 2-2 2, Melissa Olsen 3 0-0 6, Brandie Radde 3 4-4 12, Amber Peters 2 4-4 8, Ashley Pingel 1 2-2 4, Sarah Dreher 3 0-1 6, Kate Whittaker 1 2-2 4, Megan Scameheorn 1 0-0 2, Colombe Martin 0 2-2 2, Leigh Tyler 2 2-2 6, Chardae Ross 1 0-0 2, Jessica Shinsky 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 21-23 61
Coloma: Ashley Mannino 0 0-0 0, Kelly Herman 0 1-2 1, Hannah Barrett 2 2-2 6, Diane Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Karen Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Jamie Cade 1 1-2 3, Liz Modro 1 0-0 2, Melanie Galles 0 2-2 2, Haley Gire 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7 6-8 20
Niles 19 19 17 6--61
Coloma 4 8 3 5--20
3-point shooting: Niles 2 (Radde 2), Coloma none. Team fouls (fouled out): Niles 10 (none), Coloma 15 (none). Team records: Niles 18-3, Coloma 7-14