By By AUTUMN GRAYSON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Despite a slow start for both teams, the Niles varsity basketball team blew out Brandywine, 52-29, in the opening round of annual holiday tournament.
The score was close for the entire first quarter, with neither team scoring more than 10 points.
Niles pulled away by halftime and gained an 18-9 lead.
The second half was all Niles. Brandywine did not come within 10 points of the Vikings for the remainder of the game.
"I thought we played a much better second half than we've played all year," Niles coach Todd Pawielski said after the game. "Taylor Williams and Andre Thompson both did a great job off the bench tonight."
Danny Rodts led the Vikings in scoring with 13 points. He also had five rebounds. Jordan Parks scored eight for the Vikes and Andre Thompson added seven points.
Mat Peters and Taylor Williams each had four rebounds.
"I think we are running some of our half-court offenses a little better than we have. Defensively we're still giving up a few too many easy baskets, but I certainly like our effort and our hustle," Pawielski said.
Brandywine's Caleb Frazier scored 16 points and Josh Benjamin added five.
LMC vs. Coloma
Coloma's varsity basketball team got an early lead and ran away with an 82-37 victory over Lake Michigan Catholic.
The Comets had a 30-point lead at halftime, which increased in the second half.
Jeff Gargano led Coloma with 24 points. Joe Stonebraker added 14 points and Spencer Paulsen had 12.
For Lake Michigan Catholic, Kenny Crowder had 20 points and Eric Olszewski, Shane Bowser and Neil Meskill all had five points.
Brandywine and Lake Michigan Catholic will face-off today at 6 p.m.
Niles and Coloma will play for the championship beginning at 8 p.m.