By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - After suffering a 78-35 loss to Benton Harbor last Thursday, Niles' varsity basketball team rebounded Tuesday night with a 72-49 win over visiting Lakeshore in Big 16 West Division action.
Niles jumped to an early lead in the first quarter and showed no sign of letting it go. The Lady Vikes had a 24-15 lead heading into the second, where they extended their advantage to 41-26 entering halftime.
Leigh Tyler opened up the second half of play with a bucket and Brandie Radde hit her first of three three-pointer in the third quarter at the 5:55 mark.
Sarah Dreher added another two points to the score after her steal to give Niles a 48-29 lead.
The Lancers scored their first basket with 5:10 left in the third, but Radde bombed another three and Dreher added another basket to give the Vikings a very comfortable 53-33 lead.
Stephanie Schrader added two points to Niles' score and Radde hit her final three with 1:37 on the clock to bring the third quarter score to 58-37.
Dreher scored Niles' first two baskets in the fourth and Jessica Shinksy made two free throws to keep the Vikes out of reach with a 64-40 lead halfway through the final quarter.
An out of bounds play on the Vikings side allowed Dreher to tip in two more points for Niles.
Lakeshore tried endlessly to make any open shot it could in an attempt to comeback, but had no luck.
Two three-pointers from Katie Pappa and other baskets from Katie Wiederwax and Alex Garrison added points to the scoreboard, but not enough to surpass Niles' 72-49 lead for the victory.
Dreher led the Lady Vikes with 28 points, six assists and five steals.
Radde added 20 points and Megan Scameheorn added three points, six assists and six steals.
Niles will travel to Paw Paw Thursday evening for a non-divisional game set to begin at 7 p.m.
Niles' freshmen team also picked up a 55-21 win over Lakeshore Tuesday afternoon.
Autumn Lucero led the Lady Vikes in scoring with nine points.
Katie Bourbonnais added eight points and Bryanna Cramer and Kaleigh Hill both had seven points each.
NILES 72
Amanda Pingel 1 0-0 2, Shelley Aurand 1 0-0 2, Lindsay Craig 0 2-1 1, Megan Scameheorn 0 1 0-0 3, Leigh Tyler 2 0-0 4, Brandie Radde 7 3 0-0 20, Sarah Dreher 11 9-6 28, Stephanie Schrader 3 0-0 6, Lauryn Gibson 0 0-0 0, Jessica Shinsky 1 2-2 4, Brittney Wolverton 0 2-0 0, Rebecca Teske 0 0-0 0, Baysia Cox 0 2-1 1.
LAKESHORE 49
Sarah Woodrick 2 0-0 4, Laura Wilke 2 0-0 4, Alex Garrison 1 0-0 2, Amanda Harrington 0 0-0 0, Jordan Nelson 1 3-1 3, Monica Gathright 3 0-0 6, Ashley Brown 0 2-1 1, Katie Pappa 0 4 2-0 12, Katie Wiederwax 4 4-1 9, Katie O'Conner 1 0-0 2, Molly Lange 2 4-2 6.
Niles 24 41 58 72
Lakeshore 15 26 38 49