NILES — Junior Alycia Patterson, Cassandra Klingerman and the Niles girls basketball team recently received All-State honors from the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

The Vikings earned Division 2 Academic All-State with a team GPA of 3.684. It was the second straight year Niles has received the honor.

Klingerman was first-team Academic All-State.

Patterson was also Academic All-State, as well as, honorable mention Division 2 All-State for the second straight year. She will also participate in the BCAM Reaching Higher for a second straight year.

Patterson averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.0 steals this past season, leading the team in points, assists and steals.

The three-year starter and team captain also received honorable mention All-State from the Detroit Free Press. She was SMAC All-West Division for the third consecutive season.

Patterson, a three-time SMAC Student-Athlete, set the sophomore scoring record at Niles with 372 points.

“Alycia is a dynamic point guard with a great work ethic and leadership skills,” said Niles coach Jessica Johnson. “She has been our floor general for the past three years; holds the all-time sophomore scoring record and continues to improve daily. It is my pleasure to watch her grow within the game each year. Alycia not only makes big plays, but she is able to set up her teammates to knock down shots.”

Johnson added that the basketball awards are nice, but the academic awards are more important.

“She is very deserving of the recognition she has received this year,” she said. “Though all the basketball awards are great, the most impressive awards are from her academic achievements (three-time SMAC Student-Athlete and two-time team Academic All-State honorable mention), and now to add individual Academic All-State just proves that she is an all-around student-athlete that takes care of business on and off the court.”

Klingerman, a reserve on the Niles basketball team, also received high praise from her coach.

“Cassie is an outstanding student-athlete,” Johnson said. “She has a great work ethic and a positive attitude. Cassie will give you 110-percent in everything she does. She was recognized by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan for Outstanding Student-Athlete with a 4.0 GPA. She was also honored with Team First recognizing her teamwork, commitment, service and sacrifice on behalf of her team, teammates and school.”

Klingerman is a three-sport athlete for the Vikings as she also runs cross country and plays tennis.

“She is a great teammate,” Johnson said. “She challenges them while encouraging each one to do their best in any given sport. I am confident in saying that all her coaches and teachers would agree that she is one of the hardest working student-athletes at Niles.”