By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
No one expect Friday's Niles-Mattawan game to turn into a shootout after the contest was scoreless for the first three minutes. But that's exactly what happened in the final three quarters.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, they came out on the wrong side of the offensive explosion. A big first quarter lead melted away quickly in the second and the Wildcats ran from there, taking a 78-64 victory at Niles.
The first two periods were almost completely opposite quarters for both teams. After a slow start, Niles looked like it would run through and past the Wildcats.
The Vikings missed their first five shots, but hit 8-of-9 to end the period. Mattawan had just one field goal in the first quarter, as Niles grabbed a 19-4 lead.
It was a slow quarter all together, as neither team scored a field goal for four minutes. Mattawan's first bucket didn't come until there was 3:10 remaining in the first.
In the second quarter, the teams traded roles. Niles went ice cold, allowing Mattawan back into the game with hot shooting. The Wildcats outscored Niles 23-6 in the period to take a two-point halftime lead.
Although Mattawan is 7-2, the Wildcats are accustomed to playing from behind. They trailed 19-4 and 19-2 in their past two games respectively. But, as has been the trend for the Wildcats, rebounding and good shooting pulled them out of the hole. Mattawan held a 27-25 lead at halftime.
Mattawan outrebounded Niles 23-10 in the first half and 52-22 in the game.
The Vikings have been outrebounded in nearly every game this season. Niles lost some heighth from an already small lineup a few weeks ago when forward Nick Etzcorn hurt his back. Friday, forward Scott Quaye left the game for good just 24 seconds into the contest with an ankle injury.
The two injuries put the Vikings at a severe disadvantage against the Wildcats, who have two 6-8 players, a 6-7 player and two 6-3 players.
The Vikings shot 42 percent from the field, but take away the 8-of-9 stretch in the first quarter, and they shot just 32 percent, including 2-of-12 in the second quarter.
Because of Mattawan's big men in the middle, Niles had to settle for mostly jump shots. They took 25 3-pointers, but hit only eight.
The loss is Niles' fifth in a row and sixth in seven games. After starting the season 4-1, the Vikings are now 4-6.
Mattawan….78
Niles…………64
Mattawan (78) - Jimmy Adams 0-0 0-0 0, David Cultra 3-11 1-2 7, Shane Powell 0-1 0-0 0, Brady Webster 3-5 2-4 9, Andrew Rauch 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Kirsch 0-0 0-0 0, Bryan Principe 3-4 3-4 10, Kory Wagonmaker 12-18 1-2 29, Ryan Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Will Slain 0-0 0-0 0, Marc Larson 6-10 6-7 18, Travis Britten 0-0 0-2 0, Wilbur Ampey 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 29-55 13-22 78.
Niles (64) - Nate Orr 0-0 0-0 0, Scott Quaye 0-0 0-0 0, Tom Robson 6-9 2-2 15, Kelby Jemison 6-18 1-1 14, Nate Parks 4-11 0-0 9, Paul Wreggelsworth 0-1 0-0 0, Brandon Thomas 6-13 3-4 19, Peter Brandstatter 1-1 0-1 2, Lavette' Walker 2-6 0-0 5, Andy Foster 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-60 6-8 64.