The Niles girls and boys varsity basketball teams were defeated by Kalamazoo Central by the identical score of 70-29 Tuesday night.

The Lady Vikings hosted the Maroon Giants in the SMAC non-divisional contest.

Niles (2-9) fell behind 18-7 after one quarter, but cut the lead to 22-14 late in the opening half.

Kalamazoo Central (8-2) outscored the Vikings 48-15 the rest of the way to earn the easy victory.

Emily Gaines led Niles with 11 points.

The Maroon Giants were led by Arjanae Morgan’s game-high 16 points.

In Kalamazoo, Niles was outscored 25-9 in the first quarter and was never able to climb out of the early hole.

The Vikings (3-7) trailed 45-22 at the half and only scored five points in the final 16 minutes of play.

Bryce Lake had 13 points for Niles, which also got four points from Keegan Newman.

Isaiah Livers had 18 for Central.

 

KALAMAZOO CENTRAL 70, NILES 29

At Kalamazoo

NILES 29

Dawson Clemens 3; Austin Brookens 1; Bryce Lake 13; Jake Hamm 2; Chad Barton 2; Keegan Newman 4; Trey Gray 2; Robert Round 2. TOTALS: 12 1-2 29.

CENTRAL 70

Jeremiah Vincent 11; Isaiah Livers 18; Cass Ollie 9; Rog Stein 15; Burnett 6; Lewis 2; Paz 1; Greg Kubiak 1; Johnson 7. TOTALS: 30 8-15 70.

 

Niles                           9          22       26       29

Central                       25       45       67       70

3-point baskets: Niles 4 (Lake 3, Clemens), Central 2 (Livers 2); Total fouls (fouled out): Niles 13 (none), Central 7 (none). Records: Niles 3-7, Central 9-1.