By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat should aptly describe the Niles boys' basketball team's 65-60 victory in confrontation with longtime neighboring Dowagiac on Saturday afternoon.
It was an epic battle that neither team deserved to lose.
Niles got inside two times in the early going with Paul Dreher leading the charge. Niles' Demetrius Thompson added five points on two baskets and a free throw.
However, Dowagiac sophomore Brandon Douglas was sensational, in only his third varsity game, scoring 10 of his total 28 points in the first period giving Dowagiac an 18-14 advantage after the first eight minutes.
Romero Reed netted seven of his 11 tallies for the matinee performance during the second quarter. Jamie Simpson added five of his 10 points in each half, supporting his team with solid defense and aggressive offense.
Michael Dodd, of the Vikings, came off of the bench to register 11 points in the second quarter, including two soaring 3-pointers. With four each, from Dreher and Thompson, the Vikings came back to take a narrow 34-33 lead at the half.
Dowagiac had accumulated five points in six tries at the foul line when Niles was called for two technical fouls at the same time, one on Coach Todd Pawielski, the other on Dreher. Those five points by Douglas and Jamie Simpson made the halftime score closer than it should have been.
The third quarter began with topsy-turvy performances by both squads. Turnovers and fouls abounded.
Dreher and Jordan Parks scored inside. Niles' defense was tough inside, with Dreher and Thompson fending off the intruders. Niles led 50-44 at the conclusion of three periods.
Two fast breaks by Douglas tied the score at 53 apiece early in the final quarter. Then Douglas scored on a rebound from inside to put the Chieftains ahead of the hosts, 55-53.
The lead-o-meter swayed back and forth after Niles' Thompson tied it with a bucket, 55-55. Niles went up 57-55 with a Parks' field goal, but Chuck Mersereau and Reed made 3-of-4, at the line, to give the Chiefs a 58-57 lead.
Douglas scored on a drive to the hoop to make it 60-57, Dowagiac.
Then Parks took his senior leadership to heart, as he knocked down a three to tie 60-60. Parks and David Garner then stole two possessions from the visitors in the final 16.8 seconds remaining in the game.
They drove from half-court both times to score two field goals. Parks sank a free throw, after being fouled, to decide the outcome at 65-60.
"He's our best shooter," explained a relieved Pawielski after the game. " I can't say enough about Michael Dodd, he kept us in the game in the first half."
"We made some inexperienced mistakes at the end of the game that cost us," Dowagiac coach Greg Blomgren said. "But we played hard and we competed. We are starting to play with some energy and that's what we need to do to be successful."
Ivery Cross's Niles junior varsity defeated Dowagiac, 69-62. Dowagiac pulled to within 67-61, but their 3-point attempts wouldn't fall. Aaron Davis had 23 and Javier Smith scored 22 to lead the Vikings. Niles JV team owns a 2-1 record.
Dowagiac got 13 from Tremail Butcher and 10 from Damone Huff.
Acting coach Joe Miller, of Niles, directed his freshmen to a 62-33 assault against the Dowagiac frosh.
Nick Lucero (16), Justin Potthoff (8), and Jordan Potthoff (8) accounted for 32 of the 62 Niles points. The freshmen are 2-1 on the season.
Chris Craft led all scorers with 21 points. Darius Wilson and Gage Grant both added four points.
DOWAGIAC 60
Jamie Simpson 4 2-8 10, Romero Reed 3 4-6 11, Charles Mersereau 1 1-2 3, Shaun Bruens 1 2-2 4, Ronnell Grady 0 0-0 0, Brandon Douglas 10 5-7 28, Greg Nelson 2 0-1 4, Michael Filley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 14-26 60
NILES 65
Andre Thompson 5 1-4 11, Demetrius Phillips 2 0-2 4, Paul Dreher 5 2-3 12, David Garner 1 2-2 5, Jordan Parks 6 1-1 15, Zach Pearson 1 0-2 2, Terrell Farrow 0 0-0 0, Michael Dodd 5 3-6 16. Totals: 25 9-20 65
Dowagiac 18 16 40 16 – 60
Niles 14 19 17 15 – 65
3-point baskets: Douglas (D) 3, Reed (D), Dodd (N) 3, Parks (N) 2, Garner (N). Total fouls: Dowagiac 19, Niles 22. Fouled out: Dodd (N). Technical fouls: Dreher (N), bench (N). Records: Dowagiac 1-2, Niles 1-2