For the third game in a row, the Niles girls’ varsity basketball team watched a victory slip away in the final minutes of the contest.

The Vikings fell to visiting Gull Lake Tuesday evening, 58-52 in SMAC Conference action.
The recent pattern, according to Niles coach Jessica Johnson, is that her team just can’t seem to finish a ballgame.

“We come out strong, move the ball well, carry leads, make baskets when we need to, do well on defense, then things just fall short at the end. We just can’t keep it together.”

After a 13-11 first quarter Viking advantage, Niles didn’t see a lead again until the 3:14 mark of the third period. Freshman Alycia Patterson and junior Deshanay Alexander contributed points that helped Niles jump ahead, 41-40. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a mere 15 seconds as the Blue Devils quickly regained the lead for good.

The Vikes trailed 26-20 at halftime and 45-41 entering the fourth. It was an 8-0 run by Gull Lake with just under four minutes left in the contest that sealed the deal for the visitors.

One highlight of the night for Niles was the 3-point shooting of 6-foot senior Emma Applegate, who nailed six shots from the arc, ending the night with a game-high 20 points.
Although her team scored more than half of its points from 3-point range (27), Johnson said she’d like to see her squad play more of an inside game.

“The team likes that 3-point game, especially Emma. She’s an outside shooter and thankfully she was on tonight and hit some big shots for us late in the game. But I want them to attack the basket more because in some cases those threes hurt us. We aren’t consistent there (at 3-point range), but those inside shots will give chances at more points, which is what we need right now,” Johnson said.

Freshman Alycia Patterson was the only other Niles player to score in double-digits, finishing with 12 points.

The loss brings Niles’ record to 0-6 in the conference and 4-11 overall.

The Lady Vikes host Portage Central Friday for a 5:45 p.m. match-up.

 

Boys basketball

RICHLAND — Host Gull Lake outscored Niles 24-15 in the fourth quarter to pull away to a 75-63 SMAC non-divisional victory Tuesday night.

The Vikings and Blue Devils battled back and forth throughout the contest with Niles leading 28-27 at halftime, but trailing 51-48 heading into the final quarter.

Bryce Lake had 18 points to lead Niles, which included five 3-pointers.

Jake Hamm chipped in with 13 points and Alex Harpenau eight.

Jack Millemer and Jarrett Miller both finished with 17 points for Gull Lake, which also got 10 points from Dom Mastomatteo.

The Vikings (3-11) will host Portage Central Friday night for a SMAC West Division contest. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7:15 p.m.

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL
GULL LAKE 58, NILES 52

At Niles

GULL LAKE 58

Anjolena Davis 4 2-2 10, Jessica Wakley 1 0-1 2, Lindsay Buckhout 2 1-2 5, Ashtyn Vanlerberghe 6 4-8 16, Ashton Whitman 5 1 5-10 18, Emma Way 1 1 2-3 7. TOTALS: 19 2 14-26 58

NILES 52

Deshanay Alexander 1 0-0 2, Alycia Patterson 4 1 1-2 12, Emily Gaines 1 1 1-2 6, Aynslee Myer 0 0-2 0, Jaycee Myer 1 1 1-2 6, Emma Applegate 1 6 0-0 20, Lajan Mitchell 2 2-2 6. TOTALS: 10 9 5-10 52.

Gull Lake      13        26        45        58

Niles               11        20        41        52

3-point baskets: Gull Lake 2 (Whitman 1, Way 1), Niles 9 (Applegate 6, J. Myer 1, Gaines 1, Patterson 1). Total fouls, fouled out: Gull Lake 10 (none), Niles 17 (J. Myer). Varsity record: Niles 4-11. JV score: Gull Lake 69, Niles 17.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

GULL LAKE 58, NILES 52

At Niles

GULL LAKE 58

Anjolena Davis 4 2-2 10, Jessica Wakley 1 0-1 2, Lindsay Buckhout 2 1-2 5, Ashtyn Vanlerberghe 6 4-8 16, Ashton Whitman 5 1 5-10 18, Emma Way 1 1 2-3 7. TOTALS: 19 2 14-26 58

NILES 52

Deshanay Alexander 1 0-0 2, Alycia Patterson 4 1 1-2 12, Emily Gaines 1 1 1-2 6, Aynslee Myer 0 0-2 0, Jaycee Myer 1 1 1-2 6, Emma Applegate 1 6 0-0 20, Lajan Mitchell 2 2-2 6. TOTALS: 10 9 5-10 52.

 

Gull Lake       13       26       45       58

Niles               11       20       41       52

3-point baskets: Gull Lake 2 (Whitman 1, Way 1), Niles 9 (Applegate 6, J. Myer 1, Gaines 1, Patterson 1). Total fouls, fouled out: Gull Lake 10 (none), Niles 17 (J. Myer). Varsity record: Niles 4-11. JV score: Gull Lake 69, Niles 17.