True tests begin for Vikings
Published 4:04 pm Monday, December 16, 2013
Niles’ Gabriel Stokes (3) tries to split the Mattawan defense in the Vikings’ season opener Friday night. Niles will host Benton Harbor tonight. (Leader photo/JOSEPH WEISER)
After a 4-0 start, members of the Niles girls basketball team is feeling pretty good about themselves.
Now come the true tests.
The Vikings have played well in winning their first four games. They have caused nearly 150 turnovers all season, but they occurred against teams with very few victories to their credit so far this season.
The pace will change Tuesday night when Niles travels to Benton Harbor to take one of the favorites to win the Big 16 West Division championship. The Vikings follow that up with a home game against Portage Northern Friday night.
“I don’t know where we’re at,” Niles coach Patrick Touhey said following the win over Dowagiac last Tuesday. “I definitely know we’ll compete better than we did a year ago. But we have to clean up some things if we’re going to beat the better teams in our conference. It’s hard to do that in a game like this. We came in tonight, took care of business and the game was over in the first half. For these kids that’s improvement.”
The Benton Harbor Tigers are now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the West following a 58-41 victory over Portage Northern Friday night.
Kalabrya and Kysre Gondrezick combined for 41 points for the Tigers.
Tip-off will be at 7:15 p.m.
Jazmin Brann and the Niles girls basketball team will head to Benton Harbor Tuesday night for its first big test of the season. (Leader photo/File)
Benton Harbor at Niles
The Vikings are coming off a season opening loss to Mattawan Friday night.
Niles will need to continue to improve if the team hopes to compete for a Big 16 West Division championship this season.
The Vikings shot poorly (28 percent) in the opener against the Wildcats. Niles did outrebound Mattawan 41-39 and were 7-of-9 nine from the free throw line.
Tate Brawley led the Vikings with 12 points. Jeremy Wortham finished with 10 points.
The Tigers opened the season with a 62-57 win over Portage Northern Friday night.
Cortez Moore scored 30 points to lead the Tigers and all scorers.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Brandywine at River Valley
The Brandywine boys basketball team returns to the court when it travels to Three Oaks to face River Valley Tuesday night.
The Bobcats (0-1) were scheduled to play Benton Harbor Dream Academy Saturday night, but that game was cancelled due to the weather.
Brandywine is hoping to rebound from its season opening loss to Lake Michigan Catholic.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
