By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
PORTAGE – It was easy to see why the Kalamazoo Central basketball team is ranked sixth in the state.
After an early Niles lead Wednesday night, the Giants sparked an explosive second quarter, which helped carry K-Central to an 84-56 victory in the Class A District semifinals.
The win advances the Giants (18-3) to Saturday's final game against the winner of the Portage Central/Kalamazoo Loy Norrix game on Saturday.
The first period of the semifinal game looked very promising for the Vikes. K-Central took the first lead of the night when Corey Person nailed a 3-point shot. Kurt Bourbonnais added two points for Niles, posting a score of 3-2. The Giants next went on a 5-0 run to widen the gap to 8-2, but the senior leadership of Bourbonnais pulled through again as he scored two back-to-back buckets to pull Niles within two, 8-6.
Another 3-pointer from Central kept the Giants alive, but only for one minute as Jordan Parks bombed a three and Demetrius Phillips banked a bucket, allowing the Vikes to tie the game at 11 with 2:54 left.
K-Central scored a bucket and one free throw on its next two possessions, but the strong offensive play of Phillips and Bourbonnais added four points to the scoreboard, allowing Niles to carry a 15-14 lead into the second.
That, unfortunately, was the last time the Vikes would see the lead for the rest of the game.
Not only did the Central basketball team come alive in the second, but the Giants' fans did as well. A fired up gymnasium allowed Kalamazoo to make an impressive appearance and outscore the Vikes 33-13 in the quarter.
Niles trailed K-Central by just one point, 20-19, with 5:20 on the clock when the Giants broke away for good.
Two back-to-back steals and lay-ups from Morris Brooks and Person sparked a Kalamazoo take-over.
Danny Rodts bombed a three to keep the Vikes alive and only trailing by three, 25-22, but a basket by Cameroon Cheatham, a huge dunk by sophomore Doug Anderson and th Giants' fast-paced full court press added to Niles' frustration.
"Kalamazoo Central's speed and athleticism really showed in the second. You could certainly see why they are No. 6 in the state," Niles head coach Todd Pawielski said.
With just one second left in the first half, Central's Khandel Bell made a 3-point, three-quarter length shot when he threw the ball to the other end of the floor. A shocked Bell didn't even know he made it until teammates and fans went nuts. Bell turned around, after missing his shot, and threw his hands in the air with a huge grin on his face. The Giants entered halftime with a 47-28 lead, which only continued to grow in the third, 70-43.
"I give a lot of credit to our kids. They played very disciplined and have a very good work ethic," Pawielski said.
Rodts ended the night with 13 points for the Vikings, which end their season with a 5-16 record.
"Danny had a spectacular season for us and averaged 15 points per game," Pawielski said.
Damian Bryant added seven points and Bourbonnais had 11 points and four rebounds.
"We will miss all of our seniors, Damian Bryant, Josh Moffitt, Danny Rodts, Jonathan Smith, Mat Peters and Kurt Bourbonnais and their contributions to the Niles basketball program," Pawielski added.
For Central, Anderson ended with 25 points, while Person and David Felton each added 10.
KALAMAZOO CENTRAL … 84
NILES … 56
At Portage Central
NILES (56) – Jordan Parks 3 0-0 7, Daniel Rodts 6 0-0 13, Mathew Peters 0 0-0 0, Kent Bourbonnais 4 3-4 11, Damian Bryant 1 1-4 3, Joshua Moffitt 0 0-0 0, Demetrius Phillips 2 0-0 4, Seth Jordan 1 2-2 4, Andre Thompson 1 0-2 2, Taylor Williams 0 1-2 1, Taylor Robson 2 0-0 5, Jonathan Smith 2 1-1 6. Totals 22 8-15 56.
KALAMAZOO CENTRAL (84) – Khandel Bell 2 0-0 6, Morris Brooks 1 0-0 2, James Harris 3 1-2 7, Corey Person 4 0-0 10, Doug Anderson 9 7-9 25, Shannon Burton 1 0-0 3, Donte Hudson 2 0-0 4, Dorian Gardner 3 3-4 9, Daniel Parker 0 0-0 0, David Felton 3 4-6 10, Camerron Cheatham 0 0-0 0, Robert Brooks 2 0-0 4, Tim Cameron 1 0-0 2, Andrew Laur 1 0-0 2, Rhamad Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals 32 15-21 84.
Niles 15 28 43 56
Kalamazoo Central 14 47 70 84
3-point baskets: Niles 4 (Parks, Rodts, Robson, Smith); Central 5 (Bell 2, Person 2, Burton); Total fouls (fouled out): Niles 20 (none), Central 20 (none); Records: Niles 5-16, Central 18-3.