From staff reports

MATTAWAN – The Big 16 West Division title chances of the Niles girls’ basketball team were dealt a serious blow Friday night.

Mattawan 6-foot-4 freshmen Allie Havers scored 19 points and hauled down 13 rebounds in the Wildcats’ 50-41 victory.

The win gained a measure of revenge for Havers and Mattawan, which was defeated by the Vikings 65-62 back on Jan. 29.

Havers fouled out of that contest.

The Wildcats (10-8, 4-3 West) used a 17-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter to take control of the contest.

The game was close throughout.

Niles (13-5, 5-2 West) trailed the Wildcats 25-23 at the intermission despite 14 points from junior point guard Nichole Sly.

Sly would finish with 17 points.

The Vikings tried to catch the Wildcats in the final quarter, but neither team could find the range from the floor as they combined for a mere 17 points.

Besides her 17 points, Sly also had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Niles also got six points from Jenna Grannell and five points each from Alex McIntee and Gabby Ezell.

Outside of Havers, Mattawan got 14 points from Alyssa McBride and six points from Amanda Money.

The Vikings will wrap up the Big 16 West Division and regular season on Friday, Feb. 26 when they play host to St. Joseph.

Niles will then open up Class A district play on March 1 against defending state champion Benton Harbor at Portage Northern High School at 6:30 p.m.

NILES 41
Savannah Wolnik 2; Starr Ford 0; Alex McIntee 5; Gabby Ezell 5; Maureen Craig 3; Nichole Sly 17; Whitney Ellis 3; Jenna Grannell 6; Kelsey Crago 0. TOTALS: 12 15-28
MATTAWAN 50
Alyssa McBride 14; Amanda Money 6; Kara Kingma 2; Meghan Bogema 2; Emily Stroh 2; Taylor Callen 5; Kelsie Meade 0; Kristen Cargo 0; Allie Havers 19. TOTALS: 20 8-15 50

Niles 11 23 32 41
Mattawan 11 25 42 50
3-point baskets: Niles 2 (Craig 1, Grannell 1), Mattawan 2 (McBride 1, Money 1). Total fouls: Niles 16, Mattawan 20. Fouled out: Stroh (M). Varsity records: Niles 13-5, 5-2 West; Mattawan 10-8, 4-3 West