By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Despite facing a seven-point deficit with less than four minutes to go, the Lakeshore varsity basketball team fought back for its first victory over Niles since the 1997-98 season.
The Vikings (0-1) aided the Lancers' comeback effort with two turnovers in the final moments, but Lakeshore also made five field goals and 5-of-9 free throws to overcome the Niles lead and improve to 2-0 on the year, 1-0 in Big-16 West Division play.
Lakeshore took the lead for good on a steal and layup by Steve Hicks with 1:01 left in the game. A free throw by Jon Mierau with 21 seconds left gave the Lancers a 70-68 advantage.
Following a timeout, the Vikings tried to free up Marcus Lawshea for what would have been his fourth 3-pointer of the night, but the Lancers adjusted quickly and Lawshea had to shoot with a pair of defenders in his face.
The play of Lakeshore senior forward Rimas Varanauskas, an exchange student from Lithuania, was the difference for Lakeshore in the second half.
After trailing 32-27 at halftime, Varanauskas helped the Lancers cut the lead to 47-46 with 11 third-quarter points. He then went on to score nine in the fourth quarter, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Niles built its seven-point lead by going on a 13-4 run midway through the fourth quarter. Lawshea scored seven points during that stretch and finished the game with a team-high 19 points.
Niles also got 11 points and seven rebounds out of Karyce Pulliam while Parks handed out nine assists to go along with eight points in his first varsity game.
Nick Freer and Shaine Tierney scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Lakeshore. The Lancers, who started three players 6-3 or taller, outrebounded Niles 42-30.
The Niles junior varsity basketball team beat Lakeshore 79-60, led by Nate Orr's 17 points.
The Niles freshmen team also beat Lakeshore, 59-56. Paul DePoy led the Vikings with 15 points. Jake Messner added 13 and Jonathan Smith scored 10.
Niles travels to Battle Creek Harper Creek next Friday night.
Lakeshore….70
Niles………….68
Lakeshore: Steve Hicks 2 1-2 5, Shaine Tierney 3 4-6 10, Trent Frank 0 0-2 0, Ken Welch 0 0-0 0, Nick Freer 3 5-10 11, Jon Mierau 2 1-2 5, Rimas Varanauskas 8 8-8 25, Adam Benke 5 3-6 13. Totals: 23 22-36 70
Niles: Karyce Pulliam 4 2-2 11, Scott Quaye 0 0-0 0, Marcus Lawshea 7 2-2 19, Dane Ford 0 0-0 0, Ivery Cross 0 0-0 0, Stacy Caskey 0 0-0 0, Nate Parks 2 4-5 8, Paul Wreggelsworth 0 2-2 2, Adrian Davis 1 1-2 3, Lonnie Jones 3 0-1 6, Jason Rutkowske 0 0-0 0, Nick Etzcorn 1 1-2 3, John Kessick 4 0-0 8, Brian Ketchum 4 0-0 8. Totals: 26 12-16 68
Lakeshore 18 9 19 24--70
Niles 12 20 15 21--68
3-point shooting: Lakeshore 1 (Varanauskas), Niles 4 (Lawshea 3, Pulliam). Team fouls (fouled out): Lakeshore 20 (Frank, Tierney), Niles 28 (Cross). Team records: Lakeshore 2-0 (1-0 Big-16 West), Niles 0-1 (0-1)