For three out the four quarters Friday night, the Niles boys basketball team played with SMAC West champion Portage Central.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, the third quarter proved to be their downfall in a 58-50 West Division loss to the visiting Mustangs.

Portage Central (12-2) and Niles (3-12) were deadlocked at 15-15 after one quarter, while the Mustangs forged ahead 32-24 with a late run to end the opening half.

Niles was outscored 16-9 in the pivotal third quarter as Portage Central opened up a 48-33 advantage.

The Vikings came storming back in the final quarter, but could not overcome the third quarter deficit.

The Mustangs shot a torrid 64 percent from the field to keep Niles at bay.

“We gave up too many points in the first half,” Niles coach Todd Pawielski said. “Portage Central made some shots as well. They really came out hot in the third quarter. We played a pretty solid game. We only turned it only eight times and we scored 50 points.

“Portage Central is just a better team than we are right now. Credit Portage Central for winning our division. They are very solid on both sides of the ball.”

Johnny Maier and Austin McCullough both scored 15 points to lead the Mustangs and all scorers.

McCullough became the all-time leading scorer for Portage Central in the opening half.

Niles was led by Alex Harpenau’s 13 points. Bryce Lake added 10 and Jacob Hamm nine.

In a rather bazaar first game, visiting Portage Central defeated Niles 54-37 in girls action Friday night.

The Mustangs and Vikings were deadlocked at 31-31 heading into the fourth quarter when things got out of hand.

Through numerous fouls, delays as officials discussed their calls and a technical foul, Portage Central outscored the Vikings 23-6 in the final eight minutes to pick up the win.

The game featured 40 fouls, including 27 on Niles, and four players fouling out.

The Mustangs shot 20 free throws in the fourth quarter and connected on 12 of them.

The Vikings shot just nine free throws the entire night.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

PORTAGE CENRAL 58, NILES 50

PORTAGE CENTRAL 58

At Niles

Jeff Criswell 9, Raine Potts 6, Johnny Maier 15, Austin McCullough 15, Theo Kizer 7, Max Godsil 1, Zach Hernandez 2, Keygan Horn 1, Colin Palmer 2, Eli Potts 0. TOTALS: 21 10-19 58.

NILES 50

Alex Harpenau 13, Austin Curran 2, Robert Brown, Jr. 8, Tre Gray 2, Bryce Lake 10, Jacob Hamm 9, Austin Brookins 8, Chris Brown 0, Keegan Neuman 0, Chad Barton 0, Dawson Clemens 0. TOTALS: 21 5-9 50.

 

Central           15       32       48       58

Niles               15       24       33       50

3-point shooting: Portage Central 6 (McCullough 2, Maier 2, Kizer 2,), Niles 5 (Brookins 2, Lake 2, Harpenau 1,). Total fouls (fouled out): Portage Central 16 (none), Niles 19 (none). Varsity records: Portage Central 12-2, Niles 3-12.

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

PORTAGE CENTRAL 54, NILES 37

PORTAGE CENTRAL 54

Kayla Mathieu 22, Abby Long 6, Griffin 0, Irmen 3, Stacey 3, Maizie Brown 7, Jessica Roth 0, Anna Kolassa 0, Brannstorm 3, MacKenzie Pikkart 10, Niedzwiecki 0. TOTALS: 16 18-33 54.

NILES 37

Taylor Gibson 0, Claudine Tudor 0, Emily Gaines 4, Aynslee Myer 6, Alycia Patterson 10, Leslie Shorter 0, Emma Applegate 0, Caitlin Daly 0, Lajan Mitchell 5, Deshanay Alexander 8, Jaycee Myer 4. TOTALS: 14 6-9 37.

 

Central           10       21       31       54

Niles               9          20       31       37

3-point baskets: Central 4 (Mathieu 2, Long, Irmen), Niles 3 (Patterson 2, J. Myer. Total fouls (fouled out): Central 13 (Pikkart), Niles 27 (Gaines. Patterson, Applegate). Technical fouls: Patterson (N). Varsity records: Portage Central 8-7, Niles 4-12.