1 of 5

The Edwardsburg boys and girls basketball teams and the Niles boys basketball team pose with Ashlyn Markel (cennter) and her family prior to thhe tipoff of the boys game at Edwardsburg High School. (Jeff Douglas | Leader Publications Contributor)

Ashlyn Markel (Center) poses with her family at center court prior to the tipoff of the boys basketball game. (Jeff Douglas | Leader Publications Contributor)

(Jeff Douglas | Leader Publications Contributor)

(Jeff Douglas | Leader Publications Contributor)

(Jeff Douglas | Leader Publications Contributor)

EDWARDSBURG — The Edwardsburg and Niles girls and boys basketball teams played ball for a cause Friday night.

The Eddies hosted their Little Warrior Big Heart doubleheader, with the girls defeating Niles  64-40 before the boys dropped a 51-47 decision to the Vikings. The game was dedicated to Ashlyn Markel, the daughter of Edwardsburg High School Principal Ryan Markel, who is battling cancer. T-shirts were sold at the game with a portion of the proceeds going to Ashlyn for her care.

On the girls side, the Eddies jumped out to a 24-11 first quarter lead and led by as many as 30 points in the game. Shelby Laubach led the way with 21 points, five rebounds, and two steals and Maddie Pobuda had 18 points and four steals while Ella Zache totaled 11 points, five steals, and two assists. Kya Shier added 10 points, five rebounds, five steals, and three assists and Kourtney Zarycki had four points and six rebounds. 

Ari Geritts led Niles with 13 points and Jessie Thornton and Kayla Kiggins each had nine. Edwardsburg (7-2,4-1) has won six straight games as it prepares to host Paw Paw at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Niles (2-6,0-5) hosts Vicksburg at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday

On the boys side, the Vikings outscored the Eddies 20-9 in the second quarter to take a 28-25 lead into halftime. Edwardsburg responded with a 15-7 edge in the third to go up 40-35 entering the fourth before the Vikings surged with a 16-7 run to close out the game.

Niles’ Brayden Favors led all scorers with 28 points and Derek Hill Jr. added eight points. Brody Schimpa led Edwardsburg with 16 points and Blaise Crist added seven.

Niles’ win over Edwardsburg snapped the Eddies’ five-game winning streak. The Vikings(6-4, 5-1) face Vicksburg at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday on the road and Edwardsburg (7-2,3-2) will travel to face Paw Paw at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

More News

Daily data: Saturday, Jan. 11

Niles bowling teams compete at Bronson Invite

‘Place of the Rapids’: Niles, Pokagon Band install new Pawating sign

Dowagiac man gets probation for drunk driving