By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE - “The last word we heard out of the locker room (during halftime) was guts,” Niles varsity basketball coach Jim Arnold said after his Vikings took a 44-25 win to knock St. Joseph out of the Class B districts Wednesday night.
Guts is exactly what the Vikings used in the second half of the game, after trailing the Bears 8-7 in the first quarter and 14-12 at halftime.
But the game could have been a lot more ugly in the first if it wasn't for senior Jessica Shinksy, who made some much needed shots for the Lady Vikes.
With Niles trailing the Bears 11-7 with 3:13 left until halftime, Shinksy made a shot from right around the free throw line to cut the lead to 11-9.
After St. Joe took a four point lead back, Shinsky added another bucket with 51 seconds left, bringing the score to 14-12.
In the third period, it was Shinksy who opened the scoring with two back-to-back buckets, giving the Vikings a 16-14 lead.
It was evident that someone was going to have to step up big for Niles, as the Bears had a goal to keep seniors Brandie Radde and Sarah Dreher away from the baskets.
And in the first half, they did just that, holding both of Niles' top scorers to only three points each.
Niles was able to get its biggest lead of the night close to the end of the third period. Megan Scameheorn went 3-for-4 at the line during the fourth and third minutes. Radde went 1-for-2, followed by a Dreher basket with just over two minutes left. Dreher again scored for the Vikings with 1:52 on the scoreboard and Radde completed a successful three point play with 34 seconds left in the third, bringing the score to 27-22.
Radde opened the scoring in the fourth, going 1-for-2 on the line and bombing a three pointer. Back on the line at the 5:13 mark, Radde went 2-for-2 bringing the score to 33-22.
A strong offensive showing from Radde and Dreher and a steal and basket from Lindsay Craig with 13 seconds left, sealed the victory for Niles, advancing it to Friday's final game with Dowagiac.
Radde led the Vikings with 17 points on the night. Dreher added 12 and Shinksy ended with 10.
Megan Mejeur was the top scorer for the Bears with eight points, while Megan Young and Rebecca Ziebart both added six points each.
The Vikings, now 18-3, and the Chieftains, 7-14, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lakeshore High School.