Niles boys basketball player Dontae Murphy didn’t wait long to become a factor in Tuesday’s non-conference game against Cassopolis.

Murphy scored 10 of his career-high 23 points in the first quarter as the Vikings turned back the Rangers, 69-57.

“Dontae did a great job,” Niles boys basketball coach Todd Pawielski said. “He was active and he played off two feet around the rim and finished through contact. He also ran the floor well and defended pretty well. It was his best all-around game this year.”

Murphy, who helped Niles improve to 4-8, also pulled down 10 rebounds and had three steals.

Murphy’s play helped the Vikings jump out to a 21-16 first quarter lead. His 3-pointer gave Niles its biggest lead of the game at 35-19 with 3:44 left in the second quarter. That basket capped a 17-3 run by Niles.

The Rangers pulled within five points three times in the third quarter with the last time coming at the end of the third at 49-44. But Cassopolis was unable to get any closer as Niles sealed the game by going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Murphy made all six of his free throws in the fourth. His two free throws gave the Vikings a commanding 65-52 lead with 42 seconds remaining.

“We’ve been there a little bit this year,” Pawielski said about the rally he witnessed from Cassopolis. “Cass did a nice job of continuously putting us on our heels. They made some jump shots and they went to the rim. They really had a nice game plan.”

Gabe Stokes scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half for Niles. He also pulled down seven rebounds. Gavin Rasler added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

“We were lucky Gabe Stokes really kind of took over,” Pawielski said. “We were struggling a little bit in the third and the first part of the fourth. I think Stokes scored six straight points in transition and did a nice job.”

Brandon Glover scored 21 points to lead Cassopolis, which dropped to 8-6. Bryce Saxton added 14 and Dion Gatson had nine.

“Some kind of way we’ve got to get Bryce, Brandon and Dion (Gatson) going at the same time,” Cassopolis boys basketball coach Ricky Evans said. “If those three go, we go.”

 

NILES 69, CASSOPOLIS 57

Niles 69

Gabe Stokes 19, Gavin Rasler 11, Sammy Rodts 4, Ray Glenn 2, Dontae Murphy 23, Jake Hamm 6, Tyler Phillips 0, Alex Harpenau 2, Derek Brown 0, Devin Kuemin 0, Jalen Alexander 2. TOTALS: 26 14-18 69

Cassopolis 57

Matthew Pittman 3, Brandon Glover 21, Noah Woods 8, Bryce Saxton 14, Dion Gatson 9, Alex Emerson 0, Malik Ballard 0, Kiante Brown 0, Isaiah Crider 2, Shane Los 0. TOTALS: 22 11-18 57

 

Niles                21       37       49       69

Cassopolis      16       27       44       57

3-point baskets: Niles 3 (Stokes, Rasler, Murphy), Cassopolis 2 (Saxton, Gatson). Total fouls (fouled out): Nilse 18 (none), Cassopolis 15 (none). Shooting: Niles 26-of-56 for 46-percent, Cassopolis 22-of-58 for 38-percent. Rebounding: Niles 38 (Rasler 12), Cassopolis 28 (Woods 12). Turnovers: Niles 13, Cassopolis 11. Records: Niles 4-8, Cassopolis 8-6