Niles is a different looking girls basketball team when Elyse Zimmerman isn’t on the court.

Proof of that could be seen in the Vikings’ season opener against Edwardsburg.

Zimmerman went to the bench with 4:55 left in the third quarter after picking up her fourth foul. Niles led, 30-22.

“I was using my hands a little bit too much so I was in a little bit of foul trouble,” said Zimmerman.

When Zimmerman returned to start the fourth quarter the Vikings’ lead was down to 34-31.

Behind Zimmerman’s clutch free throw shooting in the fourth quarter, Niles beat Edwardsburg, 46-40. Zimmerman went 7-of-10 from the foul line in the final quarter, including 6-of-8 in the final 1:38.

“I just wanted to use good form (at the foul line) and put the ball in the hole,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve been practicing my free throws a lot.”

At an early stage in their player-coach relationship, first-year Niles girls basketball coach Phil D’Amico appreciates the mental toughness that his 5-foot-7 junior point guard brings to the team.

“Elyse is a tenacious, tenacious basketball player,” D’Amico said. “She’s full speed ahead and she has a high motor. She is truly a coach on the floor for me. Having her here is a security blanket.”

Zimmerman finished with 18 points, three rebounds and three steals and acted like a team leader even when she was sitting on the bench.

“I was just telling the team to relax and have fun and that we can trust each other with the ball,” Zimmerman said.

“We stuck together really well. We didn’t get down when (Edwardsburg) had a little run. We didn’t have any attitudes. We just had fun and did what needed to be done.”

Zimmerman, who’s a three-year varsity starter, has adjusted quickly to the teaching methods of a new coach.

“It’s a little different,” she said. “He has different expectations. But we’re all coming together and understanding what he wants.”

What Zimmerman wants is team success. Individual accolades are secondary to Zimmerman.

“I do whatever is takes to win,” Zimmerman said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m scoring or someone else is scoring on my team.”

Along with staying out of foul trouble, Zimmerman hopes to make improvements on other parts of her game this season.

“I need to improve on getting to the basket and scoring when there’s an opportunity,” Zimmerman said. “I also need to be able to drive and kick the ball out to open teammates.”

D’Amico doesn’t want many nights like the one against Edwardsburg where he has to put Zimmerman on the bench because of fouls.

“We need to keep her on the court for sure,” D’Amico said.