By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Though Niles' girls' basketball team inevitably lost to Lansing Catholic Central in the state quarterfinals Nov. 30, the Vikings Brandie Radde did her best to stave off elimination.
Radde single-handedly kept the Vikings within striking distance of the Cougars in the first quarter. She hit five of her first seven shots en rout to 11 points in the opening period. She also nailed a big 3-pointer in the second that gave Niles the lead at halftime.
She lead Niles in scoring in the game, finishing with 16 points and three rebounds.
Though the Vikings' tournament run would end that night, Radde's performance earned her the honors as the Niles Daily Star's Girls Athlete of the Week for Nov. 28-Dec. 4.
Radde also collected numerous other honors last week. She was named to the Big 16's All-District team, as well as the Class B All-State Special Mention list.
Another Niles athlete took the award for the boys. Josh Henry was one of the reasons the Vikings' wrestling team went 6-0 last week to start the season.
Though there were many bright spots in Niles six convincing victories, Henry was perhaps the brighest. He went 6-0 at 189 pounds, including four pins. Henry was Niles' only regional qualifier last season.
The Vikings opened the season with big victories over Vicksburg and Mattawan on Dec. 2. At the Niles Invitational on Saturday, the Vikings went 4-0, including a 76-0 shutout of Centreville.
Each week, the athletics directors from Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan nominate players for the Athlete of the Week.
The sports editor of the Niles Daily Star then selects a boys' and girls' winner for each week.
Each senior winner will be eligible to apply for the scholarship at the end of the school year. Each week's winners will also receive a month's subscription to the newspaper of the community they represent.
In April, each senior Athlete of the Week winner from all three sports seasons will submit an application for the scholarship.
Leader Publications will then select a boys' and girls' Athlete of the Year from either Niles, Brandywine or Buchanan.
The two athletes will receive a scholarship for an as yet to be determined amount. The winners will be named in May.
Questions regarding the Athlete of the Year scholarships can be directed to Mary Cooper at 687-7732 or Daily Star sports editor Adam Fisher at 687-7703.