By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
A furious fourth quarter rally wasn't enough for Niles girls' basketball team Tuesday, as the Vikings lost their second game of the season, a 47-45 setback at Battle Creek Lakeview.
After the teams played an even first quarter, Lakeview raced out to a 10-point halftime lead. The Spartans added another point in the third to push their lead to 11 heading into the fourth.
The Vikings (9-2) did so by outscoring Lakeview 17-8 in the final period. Trailing by two with 54 seconds remaining, however, the Spartans (8-3) hit a free throw to seal the game.
Niles was again without the aid of guard Brandie Radde, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. The Vikings missed her long-range shooting, as 3-pointers made the difference for Lakeview.
The Vikings hit one more field goal than the Spartans and the same amount of free throws. Lakeview, however, hit five 3-pointers to Niles' one to give them the extra points needed for victory.
Junior Sarah Dreher led Niles with 17 points on six field goals and 5-of-6 shooting from the line. No other Viking reached double-figures.
Ashley Pingel was the second leading scorer for Niles with eight points.
For Lakeview, it was the combination of Chelsea Frantz and Katie Hood that hurt Niles. The two combined for 34 points and were the only Spartans with more than five points. Hood and Frantz also hit all of Lakeview's 3-pointers. Hood had four and Frantz one.
The Vikings look to bounce back Thursday on the road against Kalamazoo Central.
Battle Creek Lakeview……47
Niles…………………………..45
Niles (45) - Ashley Pingel 2 3-5 8, Amber Peters 2 2-4 6, Meghan Scameheorn 1 -2 4, Leigh Tyler 0 0-0 0, Sarah Dreher 6 5-6 17, Jessica Shinsky 2 1-2 5, Kate Whittaker 1 2-2 4, Becca Teske 0 0-0 0, Melissa Olsen 0 0-2 0, Amanda Pingel 0 1-2 1, Stephanee Schrader DNP, Brandie Radde DNP. Totals: 14 16-25 45.
Lakeview (47) - Chelsea Frants 4 7-9 16, Courtney McCotter 2 1-1 5, Chanil Postley 0 3-4 3, Katie Hood 3 2-2 18, Sarah Bartholomew 1 1-5 3, Laurie Nettleton 0 1-3 1, Morgan Stevens 0 1-3 1. Totals: 13 16-27 47.
Halftime score - Lakeview 28, Niles 18
3-point shooting - NHS 1 (Ashley Pingle); LV 5 (Hood 4, Frantz 1). Fouls (fouled out) - NHS 25 (Whittaker, Olsen); LV 24 (McCotter, Tsoumas). Records - NHS 9-2; LV 8-3.