By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The Niles varsity basketball team suffered its sixth straight loss, and its worst defeat of the season, Wednesday night.
The Penn (Ind.) Kingsmen handed the Vikings a 64-21 loss, dropping Niles' record to 1-7. Penn improved to 9-1.
As has been typical in the Vikings' losing streak, turnovers were a problem for Niles Wednesday night. The Vikings committed 33 turnovers, 20 of which came in the decisive first half.
In addition to not taking care of the ball, Niles did not shoot the ball well, connecting on just 7-of-28 shots for 25 percent from the field. Penn hit 21-of-49 (43 percent) from the field. The Kingsmen were also effective from the free throw line, making 20-of-23 attempts.
After a fairly even first quarter, Penn pulled away in the second quarter by outscoring the Vikings 20-3 to take a 31-10 lead at halftime.
Niles scored 10 points in the third quarter but gave up 18 to the Kingsmen. The fourth quarter was all Penn as Niles managed just one point compared to 15 by the Kingsmen.
Penn sophomore Tyler Brown scored a career-high 32 points, including a 14-of-15 performance at the free throw line. He was the only player in double figures.
Marcus Lawshea led Niles with seven points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
The Vikings travel to Dowagiac Friday night in search of their first Big 16 West Division victory.
The Niles junior varsity team suffered a 73-56 loss to Penn. Nate Orr paced the Vikings with 13 points and Nick Johnson added 10.
The Niles freshmen team also lost, 57-47, to Penn. Tony Horston led the Vikings with 16 points. Dan Rodts added 12 points.
Penn….64
Niles….21
Penn: Tyler Brown 9 14-15 32, Brent Dunaway 2 0-0 5, A.J. Graft 2 2-2 6, Brad VanOverloop 2 2-2 6, Kyle Beaudway 2 1-2 5, John McGuin 1 0-0 2, Matt Laird 0 0-0 0, Dennis Maure 1 1-2 4, Ryan DeLong 2 0-0 4. Totals: 21 20-23 64
Niles: Marcus Lawshea 2 1-2 7, Ivery Cross 1 0-0 2, Nate Parks 0 0-0 0, John Kessick 2 0-0 4, Brian Ketchum 2 1-1 5, Karyce Pulliam 0 0-0 0, Scott Quaye 0 2-2 2, Dane Ford 0 0-0 0, Stacy Caskey 0 0-2 0, Paul Wreggelsworth 0 1-2 1, Adrian Davis 0 0-00, Ben Landgraf 0 0-0 0, Lonnie Jones 0 0-0 0, Jason Rutkowske 0 0-0 0, Andrew Foster 0 0-0 0, Nick Etzcorn 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7 5-9 21
Penn 11 20 18 15--64
Niles 7 3 10 1--21
3-point shooting: Penn 2 (Dunaway, Maure), Niles 2 (Lawshea 2). Team fouls (fouled out): Penn 9 (none), Niles 21 (none). Team records: Penn 9-1, Niles 1-7