By Staff
Niles' varsity girls basketball team was just too big for Harper Creek, and the Vikings knew it. Niles exploited its size advantage from the opening tip Tuesday in a 61-32 victory over the Beavers.
The Vikings got the ball to junior forward Sarah Dreher down low early and often. Dreher scored 10 of Niles' first 14 points and looked unstoppable in the process.
Dreher scored half of the Vikings' points in the opening period, as the Vikings (6-0, 5-0) jumped out to a 20-4 lead. Niles' height was key. Even when the Vikings missed a shot, they grabbed rebounds for put-back opportunities.
While Niles' post game dominated the offensive end, its defense stiffled Harper Creek in the first half. The Vikings' press forced the Beavers into numerous turnovers and limited them to 10 points in the half.
Arnold, however, was not as happy with his team's play in the second half.
Harper Creek's Lindsay Haggerty opened the third quarter with two quick 3-pointers. Niles went nearly three minutes without scoring in the period and scored 10 points total, low for the Vikings.
The Beavers' defense did a better job of keeping Niles out of the lane on offense, but Arnold said his team got sloppy and played poorly the second half.
Dreher agreed with her coach's assessment and said that the Vikings nearly allowed Harper Creek back into the game with their poor play.
Because the Beavers were inching closer to Niles, Arnold put his team back in the press which was successful in the first half. The defense worked again, as the Vikings pulled out the 29-point victory and remained undefeated this season.
Dreher scored 17 points in the first half, but was held scoreless in the third quarter and finished with 21 points to lead all scorers. Also in double figures for the Vikings were Brandie Radde with 14 and Amber Peters with 10.
The junior varsity and freshmen matches were closer than the varsity game. The JV team lost a 47-38 decision. The Vikings were led by Abigail Mitchell with eight points and Lauryn Gibson with six.
Niles' freshmen won 34-33 in overtime. Ashley Willis led the Vikings with 10 points, including the game-winning shot in the extra period.
Niles………………………61
Harper Creek…………..32
HC - Nicole Rial 0 0-0 0, Morgan Barnes 2 0-0 4, Sarah Bailey 0 0-0 0, Bethany Turley 1 0-0 3, Monica Crider 2 6-7 10, Jen Demaree 0 2-2 2, Alyssa Tone 0 0-0 0, Jamie Yurisich 0 0-0 0, Lindsay Haggerty 3 3-4 11, Jaime Fuller 1 0-0 2, Tonia Ramsey 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 11-13 32.
NHS - Ashley Pingel 1 0-0 2, Amber Peters 4 2-2 10, Meghan Scameheorn 1 1-2 3, Leigh Tyler 1 0-0 2, Brandie Radde 5 2-4 14, Sarah Dreher 9 3-4 21, Stephanee Schrader 0 0-0 0, Jessica Shinsky 0 0-0 0, Kate Whittaker 3 1-1 7, Becca Teske 0 0-0 0, Melissa Olsen 1 0-0 2. Totals: 25 9-13 61.
HC 4 10 19 32 - 32
NHS 20 36 46 61 - 61
Halftime score - NHS 36, HC 10
3-point shooting - HC 3 (Haggerty 2, Turley); NHS 2 (Radde 2). Fouls (fouled out) - HC 18 (none); NHS 16 (none). Records - NHS 6-0, 5-0.