By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Sarah Dreher has made it a goal to go all out for her final season with Niles' basketball team.
The Vikings took a 70-60 win over visiting Gull Lake Thursday evening and Dreher set a new school record with 39 points in one game.
Dreher breaks the record set by Timothea Clemmer, who had 35 points for Niles during the 1991 season.
Arnold also said that Dreher had some help from her teammates and that positives off the bench helped his team grab the victory.
Niles had a 21-12 lead after the end of the first, however the Blue Devils had a goal to get the Vikings in foul trouble early in the game, and it worked.
Gull Lake made it to the free throw line seven times in the second quarter, adding 12 extra points to its score.
The Blue Devils were also able to come within one point of the lead halfway through the second, but senior strength from Dreher and Brandie Radde helped keep Niles ahead.
With seconds winding down until intermission, two free throws by Gull Lake tied the game at 37 entering the second half.
The Vikings drew 18 fouls in the first half alone, but the Blue Devils weren't far behind with 16.
Gull Lake took charge in the third quarter, taking an early 42-39 lead, but a combined six points from Dreher, Radde and freshman Lindsay Craig put the Vikings back in the lead.
The Blue Devils answered back with a three-pointer and two free throws to pull ahead again, but Radde's three-pointer put Niles up 48-47.
The battle of the three-point shots continued when Gull Lake bombed another one to give the blue Devils a two point lead.
Dreher added a three-point play when she made a basket plus one free throw, but Gull Lake's Edwards added another two to keep the Devils up by one.
With one second left in the third, Craig made one free throw for Niles to tie the game at 52 heading into the final quarter.
Niles decided it was time to put away the ball game in the fourth.
Jessica Shinsky open the quarter with two points for the Vikings, but the Devils tied the game at 54, which was the last tie they would see.
Dreher scored the next seven points for the Lady Vikes and Shinksy added another two, giving Niles a 65-54 advantage.
Gull Lake was only able to added six additional points to the scoreboard, while Dreher and Radde finished out the final quarter scoring five combined points to give the Vikes the 70-60 win.
The Vikes were lead offensively by Dreher with 39 points, Radde with 17, Shinksy with seven, Craig with three and Leigh Tyler and Stephanee Schrader both with two points each.
Dreher had 11 rebounds, one assist and six steals. Radde also had 11 rebounds and four blocked shots and Megan Scameheorn had six assists
Niles, now 1-0, will return to the court on Thursday, Sept. 8 when it travels to Benton Harbor for its first Big 16 West Division game set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Freshmen
The Vikings freshmen team opened its season with a 39-38 win over Gull Lake Thursday afternoon.
After a third quarter score of 27-16 in favor of the Blue Devils, Niles came back for a thrilling victory.
Niles played excellent defense in the fourth quarter to help them with the win.
Bryanna Cramer made a basket with six seconds left to put the Vikings in the lead.
Niles was lead in scoring by Autumn Lucero with 12 points, Kaitlyn Touhey with eight and Kaleigh Hill and Cramer both with six.