Lack of defensive stops in the fourth quarter hurt the Niles boys basketball team on Friday as the Vikings fell to St. Joseph, 72-65, in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West Division action.

The Bears went 9-of-17 from the field in the fourth quarter with their baskets coming in the paint and off of offensive rebounds.

“We didn’t stop the ball and a couple times they got offensive rebounds,” said Niles boys basketball coach Todd Pawielski, whose team outscored St. Joseph, 25-24, in the fourth quarter.

“I thought St. Joseph did a great job in the lane tonight. They were physical and attacked the rim. Unfortunately, tonight, we weren’t physical enough to stop them.”

After the game was tied at 50 with 6:29 remaining, the Bears went on a 6-0 run. The Vikings pulled within 58-56 after a 3-pointer from Derek Brown with 3:27 left, but Niles couldn’t get any closer.

Gabe Stokes scored 24 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Vikings. Stokes also grabbed six rebounds, dished out six assists, had three steals and blocked two shots.

Ray Glenn, Jake Hamm and Dontae Murphy each added nine points for Niles, which led only twice in the game at 3-0 and 5-3.

“Our kids did a nice job of being resilient,” Pawielski said. “Defensively, we’re just a work in progress and nowhere near where we have to be. We just don’t move our feet very well.”

Samuel Szwabowki scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Bears, who finished with a 38-28 edge on the boards. Domoneke Mitchell added 19 points and Jordan Brewer added 17 points and 14 rebounds.

The Niles girls basketball team got a big fourth quarter from point guard Elyse Zimmerman and beat St. Joseph, 48-40.

Zimmerman scored 12 of her 19 points in the fourth. Her basket with 3:33 remaining gave the Vikings the lead for good at 38-36.

“It’s huge to have a point guard that’s a coach on the court and to have someone to get you in your stuff and back it out when you need to,” said Niles girls basketball coach Phil D’Amico.

Zimmerman also contributed 13 rebounds and three rebounds.

Another standout for the Vikings was Jazmin Brann, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.

Shelby Madison scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds for St. Joseph, which led 24-23 at halftime.

“We were impatient in the first half,” D’Amico said. “In the second half we moved the ball a little bit better. We wanted to spread the floor. We wanted to create something off the dribble drive and kick the ball out.”

 

BOYS

ST. JOSEPH 72, NILES 65

St. Joseph 72

Domoneke Mitchell 19, Jordan Brewer 17, Macmahon Shimulunas 8, Carter Scramlin 3, Samuel Szwabowski 20, Javione Ballard 5, Hamilton Mutschler 0, Thomas Patrick 0. TOTALS: 28 14-22 72

Niles 65

Ray Glenn 9, Gabe Stokes 24, Jake Hamm 9, Tyler Phillips 2, Gavin Rasler 7, Alex Harpenau 0, Dontae Murphy 9, Adam Langmeyer 0, Derek Brown 5, Sam Rodts 0. TOTALS: 24 8-13 65

 

St. Joseph       19       30       48       72

Niles                12       24       40       65

3-point goals: St. Joseph 2 (Shimulunas, Scramlin), Niles 9 (Stokes 6, Glenn, Murphy, Brown). Totals (fouled out): St. Joseph 17 (none), Niles 18 (none). Shooting: St. Joseph 28-of-64 for 44-percent, Niles 24-of-58 for 41-percent. Rebounding: St. Joseph 38 (Brewer 14), Niles 28 (Stokes 6). Turnovers: St. Joseph 12, Niles 15. Records: St. Joseph 5-2 overall (1-1 SMAC West Division), Niles 3-4 overall (0-2 SMAC West Division)

 

GIRLS

NILES 48, ST. JOSEPH 40

St. Joseph 40

Cassandra Singler 5, Anna Fischer 5, Robyn Priebe 4, Shelby Madison 10, Katelin Algyre 5, Makenzie Arent 4, Dominique Thomas 5, Haley Madison 2, Emily Morrow 0. TOTALS: 15 7-15 40

Niles 48

Antonia Palmer 4, Emily Gaines 5, Jazmin Brann 19, Maya Brookins 1, Elyse Zimmerman 19, Kylee Myer 0, Jaiden Rolan 0, Libby Moody 0. TOTALS: 17 11-15 48

 

St. Joseph       7          24       30       40

Niles                11       23       33       48

3-point goals: St. Joseph 3 (Singler, S. Madison, Fischer), Niles 3 (Zimmerman 2, Gaines). Total fouls (fouled out): St. Joseph 14 (none), Niles 16 (none). Shooting: St. Joseph 15-of-42 for 29-percent, Niles 17-of-56 for 30-percent. Rebounding: St. Joseph 31 (Priebe 10), Niles 36 (Zimmerman 13). Turnovers: St. Joseph 18, Niles 10. Records: St. Joseph 4-3 overall (1-2 SMAC West Division), Niles 6-2 overall (1-2 SMAC West Division)