NILES — The Niles girls basketball team improved to 5-3 overall with a 55-19 win over Berrien Springs in non-conference action Tuesday night.

The Vikings got another big performance from junior guard Alycia Patterson, who scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Niles led just 9-6 after the opening quarter, but outscored the Shamrocks 10-4 in the second quarter to open up a 19-10 halftime cushion.

The Vikings exploded for 23 third-quarter points to blow the contest open.

Niles led 42-17 heading into the final eight minutes of action.

Beside Patterson, the Vikings also got 12 points from freshman Amara Palmer.

Edwardsburg basketball

EDWARDSBURG — Off to its best start in years, the Edwardsburg girls basketball team looks poised to improve upon its finish from a season ago when it was eliminated in the regional championship by Hamilton.

The Eddies defeated Lakeshore 57-19 Tuesday night at home, improving their record to 9-0.

Kaitlyn Zarycki led all scorers with 21 points Tuesday, including 15 in the first half.

The Eddies finished last season with a 22-2 record.

Coach Jon Pobuda said this team has the potential to be better than last year’s squad, singling out defensive pressure as the team’s top strength.

“The girls are doing good things and they are putting in the work. Basketball is starting to make a turnaround here in Edwardsburg,” he said. “It seems every year we keep getting better and better.”

Pobuda knows there is still plenty of challenges ahead of his squad.

“We have some work to do. We are getting there slowly, but every day it seems like we are getting better and better. That is the nice thing about us. The girls and the coaches see that we can improve. It is kind of scary that we have room for improvement.”

Without looking past Friday’s opponent, Vicksburg, Zarycki is looking forward to the team’s clash against Mishawaka Marian.

“They are ranked second in Indiana so that should be a really good game,” Zarycki said. “We don’t usually play Indiana schools. It is for the competition, to get better.”

The Eddies have been in few competitive games this season with its most recent closest being a nine-point victory over Otsego Jan. 8.