By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Niles High School basketball players Sarah Dreher and Brandie Radde have proved that hard work does pay off.
Radde made a verbal agreement to play basketball for the University of Louisville a few months ago and Dreher made a verbal agreement Monday to play basketball for Western Michigan University.
Dreher had been looking at other schools in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) like Ball State, but she also looked into Indiana and Coastal Carolina. In the end, she admitted Western was where she wanted to be.
Dreher will be entering her final season with the Vikings basketball team and admits she wants to see a state championship brought home.
Though tryouts don't begin until next week, Dreher admitted that the girls are looking pretty good in open gym.
Lady Vikes head coach Jim Arnold is pleased with the fact that both Dreher and Radde's efforts have paid off.
While Dreher is a hard worker on the court, Arnold admitted he is very pleased with her classroom activities.
Radde, who has also excelled at the game since walking into the gym her freshman year, holds the career three-point record at Niles High School.
Radde currently is a shooting guard, but has the ability to help out her team in any position she plays.
Basketball has been a part of Radde's life since she was five years old. With encouragement from her family and coaching from her Dad, Radde has constantly worked to improve her game.
Her athletic ability combined with exceptional leadership skills has propelled Radde to play at the college level.
In addition to her accomplishments at Niles High School, Radde also plays competitively for Rod Creech at Michiana Basketball. Creech says Radde is one of his top players and is not surprised that a top basketball school like The University of Louisville has sought her out. Michiana Sports Academies travels throughout the country playing many basketball tournaments.
Radde says in an earlier interview that she's looking forward to a great senior year at Niles and hopes to make the most of her last season with the Vikings.
Melissa Olsen, who graduated from Niles last season, had originally agreed to play basketball and volleyball with Lake Michigan College, but her plans have since changed.
Melissa will be going to Lamar University in Texas on a four year scholarship to play basketball.
Melissa's mother, Lisa Olsen, said she is very pleased with her daughter's accomplishments and is pleased that she had the opportunity to work under coach Arnold.
Melissa will be coached by Leonard Drake, a graduate of Brandywine High School in the early 70s.
Also continuing their basketball careers are Amber Peters and Kate Whittaker, who have joined the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Mustangs.
Peters played for the Vikings for four years.
She was an All-Division Big 16 conference selection three times, set the school record in season assists with 164, ranked third in single season steals with 105 and is an all time top 10 leading scorer.
Whittaker was with the Vikings for three years.
Whittaker saw three district championships, two conference championships and two regional titles. She averaged six points, eight rebounds per game.