By By AUTUMN GRAYSON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Despite a slow start for both teams, the Niles boys varsity basketball team blew out Brandywine 52-29 in the opening round of Niles' annual holiday tournament.
The score was close for the entire first quarter, with neither team scoring more than 10 points. Niles pulled away by halftime and gained an 18-9 lead.
The second half was all Niles. Brandywine did not come within 10 points of the Vikings for the remainder of the game.
"I thought we played a much better second half than we've played all year," Niles coach Todd Pawielski said after the game. "Taylor Williams and Andre Thompson both did a great job off the bench tonight."
Danny Rodts led the Vikings in scoring with 13 points. He also had five rebounds. Jordan Parks scored eight for the Vikes and Andre Thompson added seven points.
Mat Peters and Taylor Williams each had four rebounds.
"I think we are running some of our half-court offenses a little better than we have. Defensively, we're still giving up a few too many easy baskets but I certainly like our effort and our hustle," Pawielski said.
Brandywine's Caleb Frazier scored 16 points and Josh Benjamin added five.
Niles … 52
Brandywine … 29
NILES (52) – Kurt Bourbonnais 2 0-0 4, Seth Jordan 0 2-2 2, Joshua Moffitt 0 0-0 0, Jordan Parks 2 3-4 8, Mat Peters 1 0-0 2, Demetrius Phillips 5 0-0 11, Danny Rodts 5 0-0 13, Andre Thompson 3 1-3 7, Taylor Williams 2 1-4 5. Totals: 20 7-13 52
BRANDYWINE (29) – Kyle Low 0 0-0 0, Bill Bussey 0 2-5 2, Caleb Frazier 6 4-6 16, Matt Beaver 0 0-0 0, Billy McDonald 0 0-0 0, Zak Bollenbacher 0 1-2 1, Danny Williams 0 2-2 2, Josh Benjamin 2 1-2 5, Noah Udell 0 3-4 3, Matt Duckett 0 0-2 0. Totals: 8 13-23 29
Niles 9 18 28 52
Brandywine 5 9 19 29
3-point baskets: Rodts (N) 3, Phillips (N), Parks (N). Total fouls: Niles 21, Brandywine 15. Fouled out: None
Lake Michigan Catholic vs.
Coloma
Coloma's boy's varsity basketball team got an early lead and ran away with an 82-37 victory over Lake Michigan Catholic.
The Comets had a 30 point lead at halftime, which increased in the second half.
Jeff Gargano led Coloma with 24 points. Joe Stonebraker added 14 points and Spencer Paulsen had 12.
For Lake Michigan Catholic, Kenny Crowder had 20 points and Eric Olszewski, Shane Bowser and Neil Meskill all had 5 points.
Brandywine and Lake Michigan Catholic will face-off today at 6 p.m. Niles and Coloma will play for the championship beginning at 8 p.m.
Coloma … 82
Lake Michigan Catholic … 37
COLOMA (82) – Corey Brownfield 2 1-4 5, Mike Foran 1 0-0 3, Jeff Gargano 10 2-2 24, Josh Greco 0 0-0 0, Gabe Guidry 4 0-1 8, Derrick Lucas 1 2-3 4, Spencer Paulsen 4 3-3 12, Joe Richardson 2 0-0 4, Brian Saltzman 3 2-3 8, Joe Stonebraker 6 2-3 14. Totals: 33 12-19 82
LAKE MICHIGAN CATHOLIC (37) – Eric Olszewski 1 3-4 5, Shane Bowser 2 0-0 5, Neil Meskill 2 1-3 5, Brennan Hannapel 0 0-2 0, Kenny Crowder 6 7-9 20, Michael Kurina 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 11-18 37
Coloma 27 47 70 82
LMC 8 17 25 37
3-point baskets: Gargano (C) 2, Foran C), Paulsen (C), Crowder (LMC), Bowser (LMC). Total fouls: Coloma 16, LMC 20. Fouled out: Meskill (LMC)