From staff reports

BENTON HARBOR – This time they got the job done.

The visiting Niles girls’ basketball team knocked off defending Class A state champion Benton Harbor Friday night in a Big 16 Conference West Division showdown.

The Vikings edged the division-leading Tigers 58-56 in a classic.

The win moved Niles into a tie for first place in the division with Benton Harbor. Both teams are now 5-1.

The win sets the stage for another epic battle in the opening round of the Class A district tournament next month.

“What a basketball game,” Niles coach Patrick Touhey said. “One of the things we wanted to try to do was to take either Deborah Meeks or Damonica Buford out of the game if we could. Alex McIntee and Savannah Wolnik did a tremendous job of holding Meeks to nine points. We were successful at keeping her in check.”

The Tigers came out and played zone defense until Maureen Craig hit a tri of 3-pointers to start the game and forced Benton Harbor to switch to a man-to-man.

When they did, The Vikings were able to run a special play for junior point guard Nichole Sly.

“We had a play where we set high screens up on top for Nichole and we executed it seven or eight times and we scored on it every time,” Touhey said. “We had Jenna Grannell come out and play the high post to keep Iesha Ellis out of the lane. Jenna hit her first three with Ellis playing off of her. What that did was force her to come out and play Jenna honestly.”

Niles (13-4, 5-1 West) had between a five and nine-point advantage much of the first half. But in the locker room during the intermission, Touhey told his team they would have to weather a storm.

“I told them it was like deja vu because we had that same nine point lead we had at our place at halftime,” he recalled. “I told the kids in that game that we lost focus and that lead to some easy baskets for them. I said we couldn’t let that happen tonight.”

Touhey got his wish and his team played with poise and desire down the stretch as Benton Harbor made its run at them.

In the end, it was a total team effort that got the Vikings the victory.

“Just an overall great effort by all the kids,” Touhey said.

Sly finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Craig added 14 points and four rebounds, while Wolnik, McIntee and Grannell all finished with five points.

Buford led the Tigers with 18, while Tiara Greer-Allen and Ellis both finished with 10.

Niles will travel to Battle Creek Harper Creek on Tuesday night for a Big 16 non-divisional game.

NILES 58
Savannah Wolnik 5; Alex McIntee 5; Gabby Ezell 4; Maureen Craig 14; Nichole Sly 25; Whitney Ellis 0; Jeanna Grannell 5. TOTALS: 17 19-27 58
BENTON HARBOR 56
Damonica Buford 18; Nyesha Winbush 2; Deborah Meeks 9; Shawon Swanson 4; Andrea Ellis 3; Tiara Greer-Allen 10; Iesha Ellis 10. TOTALS: 21 9-13 56

Niles 16 33 45 58
Benton Harbor 10 24 37 56
3-point baskets: Niles 5 (Craig 4, Grannell 1), Benton Harbor 5 (Buford 2, Meeks 1, Greer-Allen 2). Total fouls: Niles 11, Benton Harbor 18. Fouled out: None. Varsity record: Niles 13-4, 5-1 West; Benton Harbor 14-2, 5-1 West