PORTAGE — A quick start was not enough for the Niles boys basketball team in a 49-40 loss to host Portage Central in the opening round of the Class A district tournament Monday.

The Vikings jumped out to a 12-0 lead and led 23-17 at halftime.

But turnovers allowed the Mustangs to get back into the game and finally overtake Niles in the final 16 minutes.

Portage Central (16-5) outscored the Vikings (6-15) 16-8 in the third quarter. The Mustangs led 33-31 heading into the final quarter.

Gavin Rasler finished with 17 points to lead Niles, which also got eight points from both Bryce Lake and Jake Hamm.

Austin McCullough had 12 points for Portage Central.

 

PORTAGE CENTRAL 49, NILES 40

At Portage Central

NILES 40

Bryce Lake 8, Jake Hamm 8, Dustin Anders 2, Tyler Phillips 5, Gavin Rasler 17. TOTALS: 13 10-14 40

PORTAGE CENTRAL 49

Austin McCullough 12, Dayton Juday 7, Joe Stewart 2, Daniel Bowditch 5, Raine Potts 8, Andrew Gabel 5, Jeff Criswell 7, Jack Eichman 1, Johnny Maier 2. TOTALS 16 1-21

 

Niles                            12       23       31       40

Portage Central         4          17       33       49

3-point: Niles 4 (Lake 2, Phillips, Rasler), Portage Central 3 (Mccullough, Juday, Bowditch); fouls (fouled out): Niles 19 (none), Portage Central 18 (none). Varsity record: Niles 6-15, Portage Central 16-5.