Team effort leads Vikes to victory

Published 10:46 pm Wednesday, October 5, 2005

By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - It was evident from the first quarter that Niles' 80-50 win over visiting Kalamazoo Loy Norrix was based on a total team effort.
The Lady Vikes, who improved their overall record to 7-2, started the game with a bang, taking a 30-9 lead after the first quarter.
Brandie Radde hit two of her five three pointers in the first period and also added a bucket inside.
Sarah Dreher had six baskets and went 4-for-4 on the line, while Leigh Tyler added four points and Megan Scameheorn and Shelley Aurand also added points to the scoreboard.
The Vikings, who shot 52.8 percent from the field, stayed alive in the second quarter, taking and hitting any shot they could. Niles' tough defense forced Loy Norrix to play an outside game.
Although the Knights were able to almost double their score in the second, the Vikings still held on to a 45-26 lead entering halftime.
Niles' team effort continued in the third, with Jessica Shinksy scoring the first two baskets for the Lady Vikes, leading to her career high 19 points.
A technical foul on Loy Norrix'' Cetera Washington put Radde on the line with 5:46 left in the third.
Radde was successful in making both and hit her third three of the night on Niles' next possession, bringing the lead to 53-30.
Sarah Dreher hit Niles' next series of shots, going 3-for-4 on the line and adding a bucket on an assist from Megan Scameheorn, who finished the night with 11 assists.
With just under a minute left in the period, Radde hit her fourth three, bringing the score to 63-36 heading into the final quarter of play.
Scameheorn opened the fourth going 1-for-2 on the line just 10 seconds in the period.
Shinsky added seven points to Niles' score, while Dreher added six. Radde nailed her fifth three of the night at the 3:25 mark.
Loy Norrix'' Sharday Hughes also hit a three in the final seconds of the game, but the damage was already done as the Lady Vikes grabbed the 30-point win.
Dreher led Niles in scoring with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Radde added 21 points and 10 rebounds, Shinsky had 19 points and eight rebounds and Leigh Tyler had nine points for the Vikings.
Niles' JV and freshmen teams also picked up wins against Loy Norrix Tuesday.
The JV team grabbed a 54-33 win.
Abigail Mitchell lead the Vikings with 11 points, while Madalynn Peterek and Kelsey Neilson both added eight.
The freshmen team took a huge 60-22 win to keep it undefeated with a perfect 9-0 record.
Kaleigh Hill led her team with 13 points, while Autumn Lucero added 12.
Kate Touhey had nine points, Katie Bourbonnais had eight and Khyara Jennings had six for the Vikings.