By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
BATTLE CREEK - Finally, after 11 tries and seven straight regional losses to Niles, it looked like Monday would be the night Marshall would finally knock off the Vikings.
But a 12-point lead in the first quarter wasn't enough to keep down a determined Niles team. The Vikings outscored Marshall by 23 points in the final three quarters to win 50-37 and advance to Wednesday's regional championship game against Otsego.
Niles' Brandie Radde started the game with a 3-pointer in the opening minute, but the Redskins scored 15 unanswered points to take a 15-3 lead. The Vikings went scoreless for more than six minutes before another Radde basket cut the deficit to 15-5 at the end of the first period.
The Vikings turned the ball over nine times in the first quarter, most of them on unforced errors. Niles also had trouble breaking through Marshall's full-court press.
In the second period, however, the Vikings handled the ball better and were able to maneuver through the Redskins' defense. They turned the ball over only twice in the quarter.
Niles' offensive charge in the period was led by Brandie Radde. She scored seven points in the second quarter, including a three-point play with three seconds remaining until halftime to pull the Vikings to within 24-23.
Niles outscored Marshall 14-4 to end the half. Radde scored 12 of Niles' 23 first-half points.
The Vikings took the momentum and ran with it in the second half. Thirty seconds into the third quarter, Radde hit a shot off an alley-oop pass from Amber Peters to give Niles its first lead since early in the first period.
After the teams battled back and forth, Radde hit her second 3-pointer of the game to break a 30-30 tie and give Niles the lead for good with 3:23 left in the third. She finished the game with 19 points
Sarah Dreher dominated the fourth quarter, as Niles outscored Marshall 13-4 to put the game away. Dreher scored all four of Niles field goals.
She scored 13 points in the second half and 19 in the game to share leading-scorer honors with Radde.
Marshall finishes the year 21-2, with both losses coming to Niles. The Vikings won 52-47 on Oct. 21 at Marshall.
Niles moves to 21-2 and advances to the regional final for the third consecutive year. Last year, the Vikings lost to Gull Lake.
Niles………………….50
Marshall…………….37
Marshall (47) - Jenna Wiliams 2 4-4 8, Anna Braner 1 0-0 2, Liz Gehrig 2 0-0 5, Kelly Hughes 1 0-0 2, Meagan Mackey 3 1-2 7, Paige Dickerson 6 1-2 13, Tara Fitzsimmons 0 0-0 0, Tonya Robinson 0 0-0 0, Andrea Phillips 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 6-8 37.
Niles (52) - Amanda Pingel 0 0-0 0, Ashley Pingel 0 0-0 0, Amber Peters 1 4-6 4, Meghan Scameheorn 0 0-0 0, Brandie Radde 7 3-3 19, Sarah Dreher 9 1-2 19, Jessica Shinsky 0 0-0 0, Kate Whittaker 1 0-0 2, Melissa Olsen 2 0-0 4, Courtney Teske 0 0-0 0, Lauryn Gibson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 8-11 50.
Marshall 7 19 33 47 - 56
Niles 7 23 38 52 - 52
Halftime score - Niles 38, Marshall 33
3-point shooting - Marshall 2 (Peters, Radde); Niles 0. Rebounds (leader) - Marshall 18 (none); Niles 34 (Dreher 11). Fouls (fouled out) - Marshall 18 (none); Niles 18 (none). Records - Marshall 12-2 (8-2); Niles 14-1.