Vikings beat Bucks two weeks before district opener
Published 7:17 am Wednesday, February 14, 2018
- Buchanan’s Jayla Bibbs (20) is fouled on her way to the basket against Niles Monday night. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
NILES — In a preview of the opening round of the Class B girls district basketball tournament Feb. 26, Niles fended off a second-half charge by visiting Buchanan to post a 50-46 victory Monday night.
The Vikings (7-9) and Bucks (8-7) will meet in Niles to open the postseason.
Niles coach Jessica Johnson and Buchanan coach Gabe Miller both were hoping to learn something about their opponent before the district tournament gets under way.
“I think we better learn how to deny her (Jayla Bibbs) the basketball,” Johnson said.“
Niles got off to a fast start, grabbing a 14-5 lead on Buchanan after one quarter.
The Bucks continue to be slow starters this season according to Miller.
In the second quarter, Buchanan found its legs and behind the quickness to the basket by Bibbs, the Bucks came storming back.
Buchanan was able to draw even with the Vikings at 22-22 in the closing minutes of the first half, but a 5-0 run to end the second quarter by Niles gave the home team a 27-22 lead at halftime.
It was more of the same in the third quarter as Buchanan would close the gap and even take a 30-29 lead in Niles, only to have the Vikings pull back ahead by the end of the period, 37-36.
The Bucks had some chances down the stretch, but seemed to be playing one-on-one instead of team basketball.
“Hopefully we learned that we have to do a lot better job of playing together and executing what we worked on,” Miller said. “We are just not a good enough team to spot people a lot of points and then chase them the rest of the night.”
Bibbs led all scorers with 19 points, while Brooklyn Krumrie added eight points.
“We had a hard time stopping her and denying her the ball,” Johnson said of Bibbs. “She is a great athlete.”
Niles sophomore point guard Alycia Patterson led the Vikings with 15 points, while senior Lajan Mitchell finished with nine points.
Buchanan will travel to Berrien Springs for a BCS Athletic Confernece Red Division contest Thursday night, while Niles will host St. Joseph for its winter homecoming and a SMAC West Division game on Friday.
