Lady Vikings win ninth straight

Published 2:40 am Tuesday, February 5, 2008

By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Jim Arnold couldn't have been much more pleased with his Niles Lady Vikings on Monday as they cruised past the hapless Battle Creek Bearcats 69-22 at home, setting up an important game Tuesday against the visiting Lakeshore Lancers.
"I thought the kids played very, very well," commented Arnold. "We got off to a good start. Our press was very effective, and we caused them lots of fits for the first quarter. Then we got enough out of it (the press) so we didn't need to play it any more. So we went back to our zone defense," said Arnold.
Niles, in fact, didn't allow the Bearcats to score above seven points in any quarter, causing the 'Cats to turn the ball over 27 times for the game.
Lindsay Craig came out sharper than knife, nailing six of her first seven field goal attempts, including two of her three 3-pointers, for 14 points in the initial eight minutes.
Niles led 27-5 after that first quarter, never to be seriously challenged by the Bearcats.
In the second quarter, center Baysia Cox banked in two shots, helping Niles to pull away 37-12 by halftime.
Battle Creek continued to give the ball away, like birthday presents, in the third quarter, as Niles began substituting for its starters. Craig swished another long-range bomb giving here a game-leading 17 point scoring for the night.
Autumn Lucero ripped the net for a trey, in the third stanza, to put her in double figures with 10, and Cox added one more basket to give her a matching point total to Lucero.
For the final frame, leading 50-19, Arnold installed everyone that he could give some playing time.
Sophomore Jenna Grannell had six of her seven points, while fellow sophomore, Gabby Ezell had three accompanied by three interceptions of errant Bearcat passes. Everyone feasted on the opportunities that they had. Alyssa Pingel had two field goals, Rachel Smith sank one, and Kaliegh Hill sank two of two at the line (four for four on the night).
A running clock was instituted when Niles went ahead 61-19.
The Visitors scored a paltry three points during the quarter. The Lady Vikings now rest at 12-3 on the year.
"Everyone got some playing time tonight. We've got a big game tomorrow. Tomorrow is Senior Night; we've got Lakeshore. That's a big rivalry. It's no question that it has become one. We had beaten them, at their place the first time, so they'll be coming, looking for revenge. We'll be ready. I think the kids are peaking at the right time. We're starting to do a lot of things well," Arnold said.
Equally impressive were the Niles junior varsity players' well-balanced performance, ousting Battle Creek 53-28.
Lindsey Lucero had 14 points to lead the JV effort. Everyone chipped in: Maddy Rodts and Savannah Wolnik with eight apiece, Alex McIntee and Jordan Brown with six each, and Brittney Butti with four.
"They're really something!" exclaimed George Brawley, long time Niles coach, as his team elevated its record to 12-1.
With only seven players available for the freshman contest, Niles lost a narrow bout to Battle Creek 35-31. Taylor Glick had 14 points for the hosts.
"That third quarter, they (BC) had a 9-0 run," remarked freshmen mentor Alysse Hoyt. "We got really tired in the third quarter. We really played well in the first half. Taylor Glick continues to be an offensive threat. She had four threes and five steals."
BATTLE CREEK 22
Camille Brown 0 0-0 0; Briana Trevino 1 1-4 3; Chera Ellis 1 0-2 2; Desiree Sims 0 0-0 0; Danasia Smith 1 0-0 2; Kyra Jones 2 0-0 5; Janelle Hayes 0 0-0 0; Shakeyia Love 4 2-6 10. Totals: 9 3-12 22
NILES 69
Alyssa Pingel 2 0-0 4; Lindsay Craig 7 0-0 17; Gabrielle Ezell 1 1-2 3; Kaitlyn Touhey 0 0-0 0; Nicole Sly 0 0-0 0; Kaliegh Hill 0 4-4 4; Autumn Lucero 4 1-1 10; Nathalie Lund 1 0-0 2; Courtney Teske 2 4-6 8; Jenna Grannell 2 3-4 7, Rachael Smith 2 0-0 4; Baysia Cox 4 2-2 10. 24 15-19 69
Battle Creek 5 7 7 3 – 22
Niles 27 10 13 19 – 69
3-point Baskets: Lindsay Craig (N) 3, Autumn Lucero (N), Kyra Jones (BC). Total fouls: Battle Creek 12, Niles 11, Fouled out: Hayes (BC)