By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
It would be fair to say Niles escaped their home gym with a 54-50 victory over Battle Creek Harper Creek Friday night.
With the VIkings leading 46-45 with 1:53 to go, Harper Creek's Rocky Weaver was fouled and went to the free throw line for a one-and-one opportunity. He missed his first shot and Niles grabbed the rebound.
On the Vikings' ensuing possession, Weaver stole the ball at the top of the 3-point line and raced the other way. Niles' Pete Brandstatter ran down to stop him, forcing Weaver to spin around the defender and miss a left-handed layup.
Brandstatter corraled the rebound, and Niles (3-1, 1-1 SMAC) hit six straight free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
The momentum might have shifter well before that when the Vikings were down nine points in the third quarter, 38-29, after leading by seven in the second.
Thomas Robson hit a 3-pointer to pull the Vikings to within six points, starting a 17-4 run spanning the third and fourth periods that gave Niles the lead for good at 46-42.
For Niles head coach Denny Parks, Robson's 3 changed the momentum and got the Vikings out of their scoring draught.
Poor shooting from the line hurt the Beavers (2-2) all night long. They hit 10-of-21 from the line, including a 1-of-10 start to the game.
Niles didn't shoot exceptionally well, but made the free throws when they counted. Junior guard Nate Parks went 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute to seal the win. Parks hasn't missed a free throw all year, making 22 in a row to start the season.
Niles……………………54
B.C. Harper Creek….50
Harper Creek (50) - Alex Shehabi 0-2 0-0 0, Dawon Sharp 2-2 0-0 4, Rocky Weaver 9-18 0-5 19, Kyle Johnson 3-7 2-5 8, Nate Smith 2-7 6-6 12, Jordan Dilno 0-0 0-1 0, Ryan Voegler 2-6 2-4 7, Matt Hosking 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 10-21 50.
Niles (74) - Nathan Orr 1-4 0-0 2, Scott Quaye 1-2 0-0 0, Thomas Robson 4-12 6-7 14, Kelby Jemison 4-6 0-1 10, Nate Parks 0-3 4-4 4, Paul Wreggelsworth 1-3 0-2 2, Nick Etzcorn 6-13 1-3 13, Peter Brandstatter 0-0 1-2 1, Lavette' Walker 1-3 0-0 2, Andrew Foster 0-0 0-0 0, Brandon Thomas 1-3 1-2 4, Jason Rutkowske 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Hansen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 19-49 13-21 54.