The Niles girls basketball team lost its contest to Lake Michigan Catholic in one of the most heartbreaking fashions organized sports has to offer as LMC forward Nicole Visin hit a 30-foot jumper as time expired to give the Lakers a 35-34 victory Tuesday night.

“We wanted to make sure we defended the perimeter and have someone there and give her credit, God bless her she delivered it,” said a dejected Viking coach Pat Touhey.

With the Vikings leading 33-29 and 50 seconds left to play, Laker forward Rachel Lhokta made a huge play for her team getting a steal and making a transition lay-up in the process of which she was fouled. She then converted the and-one free-throw and brought her team to within one.

After a Niles’ defensive stand that left only four seconds in the game LMC fouled freshman Viking point guard Elyse Zimmerman, who hit the front end of a one-and-one, but missed the second one which Visin then rebounded and took the length of the court to make the improbable game winner.

Freshman forward Elizabeth Moody and Zimmerman each scored 12 points to pace the Viking effort. Junior forward Lashonda Greene added six-points.

Lhaokta and Visin each scored seven points to lead the Lady Lakers while Alexandra Raklovits and Lydia Svec added six and five points to LMC’s cause.

“I really feel like Elyse (Zimmerman) stepped up big for us tonight. She really looked for her shots well and that’s what we asked of her,” Touhey said.

Even though the loss handed the Vikings (0-8) their eighth straight loss to begin the 2012-13 campaign; Touhey was adamant that his team will learn and grow from the struggles they have already endured so far this season.

“These kids are good players and they understand that we can’t use our youth as a crutch forever. The camaraderie is there, the chemistry is there, we just have to put it all together on the court,” said Touhey. “We will get there.”

The Vikings travel to take on Portage Northern Friday at 5:45.

 

LAKE MICHIGAN 35

Nicole Visin 2, 2-2, 7; Rachel Lhotka 3, 1-1, 7; Alexandra Raklovits 2, 0-0, 6; Lydia Svec 2, 0-1, 5 ; Emmy Koinig 1, 2-2, 4; Danielle Kuehn 1, 0-0, 3; Hannah Monte 0, 2-2, 2; Hayley Barker 0, 1-2, 1. TOTALS: 11 8-9 35

NILES 34

Elizabeth Moody 4, 1-2, 12; Elyse Zimmerman 4, 2-4, 12; Lashonda Greene 2, 2-4, 6; Kylee Myer 1, 0-2, 2; Antonia Palmer 1, 0-0, 0; Kasia Dockery 0, 0-0, 0; Jazmin Brann 0, 0-0, 0; Maya Brookins 0, 0-0, 0. TOTALS: 9 5-13 34

 

LMC 9 15 21 35

Niles 8 21 23 34

3-point baskets: LMC 5 (Raklovits 2, Visin, Svec, Kuehn), Niles 5 (Moody 3, Zimmerman 2). Total fouls (fouled out): LMC 10 (none), Niles 12 (none). Varsity record: Niles 0-8