By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Following a dominant defensive effort which ended in a seventh straight district title, the Niles basketball team travels to Marshall tonight to face the host Redskins in the first round of the Class B Regional Tournament.
Niles dismissed Coloma, St. Joseph and Lakeshore last week to win the district title for the seventh time in a row. The Vikings rode an effective defensive scheme to three lopsided victories.
Niles allowed just 68 total points last week, allowing an average of less than 23 points per game. The Vikings, on the other hand, scored an average of more than 58 points per game.
Lakeshore committed 15 turnovers in the first half while scoring just eight points in Friday's loss in the district championship game.
Lancer coach Jim Maier admitted handling the Niles press is almost impossible.
Offensively, Maier said the Vikings are just as threatening.
Niles, now 20-3, takes on Marshall (18-5) at 6 p.m. in the first regional semifinal game. Gull Lake (20-3) faces Three Rivers (15-7) in the second semifinal at approximately 8 p.m.
The Vikings beat Marshall 45-34 on Oct. 21. Ashley Spriggs and Amber Peters each scored nine points for Niles and Ashley Pingel added eight.
Jenna Williams led the Redskins with 17 points and no other Marshall player scored more than six points.
Arnold believes the first game may have been a bit misleading because of the absence of Marshall sophomore center Paige Dickerson.
Niles opened this season with a 60-46 win over Gull Lake.