By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
After three close games in a row, including its second loss of the season, Niles' girls' basketball team finally got an easy one. The Vikings used a huge first-quarter scoring burst Tuesday to help them cruise to a 76-39 home victory over Sturgis.
The game marked the return of junior guard Brandie Radde, who was out for three weeks with an ankle injury.
Niles (11-2, 6-2 SMAC) dominated the Trojans from start to finish, scoring the game's first 13 points and getting out to a 25-2 lead in the first quarter.
Arnold was able to clear his bench half-way through the first period after Niles took a 23-2 lead. While 10 Vikings scored, it was Sarah Dreher who led Niles for the second game in a row.
After scoring a career-high 28 points Thursday against. Kalamazoo Central, Dreher was nearly unstoppable against Sturgis. She scored 24 points, going 9-of-10 from the field and 6-of-9 from the line.
Dreher did all her damage in two and a half quarters. Arnold rested his starters for the second half of the third period and all of the fourth. She hit her first eight shots until finally missing one in the third quarter.
Dreher said she didn't do anything different in her back-to-back games with more than 20 points. She's just playing as hard as she can, she said.
Niles' high-pressure defense frustrated the Trojans all night, forcing Sturgis (7-6) into 29 turnovers. Trojan head coach Duane LaClair said he knew the Vikings would come out attacking, but his team didn't do much to stop them.
Sturgis hit 6-of-20 shots in the first half, going 3-of-10 in each of the first quarters.
Niles shot well throughout the game, but hit more free throws (24-of-31) than field goals (23-of-52). The Vikings hit 12-of-14 from the line in the first quarter alone.
With a 49-21 lead at halftime, it looked as though the Vikings might score 100. They might have done so had it not been for the running-clock once Niles went up by 35 points late in the third quarter.
The Vikings' lead got as large as 43 points in the third quarter.
Sturgis was led by freshman guard Astynn George. George hit for 18 points, including three 3-pointers. No other Trojan scored more than five points.
In her first game back from soft-tissue swelling in her left ankle, Radde played sparingly. She didn't start, and Arnold intentionally limited her to around three minutes of playing time in the first three quarters. She sat out all of the fourth quarter.
She made the most of her minutes, however, scoring 10 points. After missing her first shot, Radde hit three straight shots, including two 3s, all in the first half. On the night, she was 3-of-6.
Radde wore a brace around her ankle and lower left leg Tuesday. She said she felt some stiffness in the ankle at the start of the game, but no pain. Once she got warmed up, she said, the ankle was fine.
Arnold said he was pleased with Radde's performance, especially since Monday's shoot-around was the first time she had shot a basketball in three weeks.
Radde's shooting touch is still there, Arnold said, but getting back her endurance from her three-week lay-off will be tough.
Niles' junior varsity team also enjoyed a big victory Thursday, beating Sturgis 55-16. Courtney Teske scored 11 for the Vikings, and Lauryn Gibson scored 10.
The Vikings' freshmen squad dropped its fourth game in a row, losing 44-39. Madalynn Peterek led Niles with 10 points, and Kaylynn Stephenson scored seven. After starting the season 9-1, Niles' freshmen are now 9-5.
The Vikings have two days off before heading to Marshall Thursday.
Niles………….76
Sturgis……….39
Sturgis (39) - Jordan Phillips 1 3-4 5, Emily Andrews 0 0-0 0, Amanda Thelen 0 0-0 0, Mandy Marsh 1 0-0 2, Sara Dresser 0 2-2 0, Dana Casault 1 0-0 2, Melanie Davis 2 0-0 5, Rebecca Kirk 0 0-0 0, Astynn George 4 7-10 18, Rachel Denison 1 0-0 2, Sarah Thomasma 2 1-2 3. Totals: 11 13-18 39.
Niles (76) - Amanda Pingel 0 0-0 0, Ashley Pingel 0 2-2 2, Amber Peters 3 3-3 10, Megan Scameheorn 1 4-6 7, Leigh Tyler 1 2-2 4, Brandie Radde 3 2-2 10, Sarah Dreher 9 6-9 24, Stephanee Schrader 2 1-1 5, Jessica Shinsky 1 0-0 2, Kate Whittaker 0 6-8 6, Rebecca Teske 0 0-0 0, Melissa Olsen 3 0-0 6. Totals: 23 24-31 76.
ST 9 21 29 39 - 39
NHS 25 49 70 76 - 76
Halftime score - NHS 49, ST 21
3-point shooting - Sturgis 4 (George 3, Davis); Niles 4 (Radde 2, Peters, Scammeheorn). Rebounds - Sturgis 26 (Cassault 5, Davis 5; Niles 28 (Peters 6). Fouls (fouled out) - Sturgis 25 (none); Niles 20 (none). Records - Sturgis 7-6; Niles 11-2, 6-2.