By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE -- The climax of Friday night's emotionally-charged basketball game between Niles and Lakeshore came early in the fourth quarter when the Vikings were still within reach of the victory.
An intentional foul and a subsequent technical foul, however, changed the complexion of the game and Lakeshore rolled to a 70-50 victory.
Leading 51-44 with 7:09 left in the game, Lakeshore found senior forward Nick Freer open on the left wing. Freer drove the baseline and took off for a slam dunk attempt only to be stopped short by Niles' Dane Ford.
The officials whistled Ford for an intentional foul. Nine seconds later, after John Kessick picked up his fourth personal foul, Niles coach Denny Parks went into a frenzy.
Freer made 2-of-4 free throws following the two personal fouls. Parks was then whistled for an intentional foul and Rimas Varanauskas made 1-of-2 free throws to give the Lancers a 54-44 advantage.
Lakeshore outscored the Vikings 16-6 following the flurry of Niles fouls.
Kessick fouled out with 4:58 to play, but not before scoring 10 points. Brian Ketchum scored 11 points to lead the Vikings. Nate Parks also scored 10.
Lakeshore placed five players in double-figures, led by Adam Benke's 16 points. Freer added 14, Varanauskas 13, Shaine Tierney 11 and Trent Frank 10.
The win snapped a three-game skid for the Lancers and improved their overall record to 11-5, including 5-3 in the Big 16 West Division.
The loss dropped Niles to 4-12 overall and 1-6 in the West Division.
Niles and Lakeshore will meet again on Monday, March 8, in the first game of the Class B District Tournament at Coloma High School.
Niles hosts Battle Creek Lakeview Tuesday before travelling to St. Joseph on Friday. The Vikings then hit the road to Vicksburg on Monday, March 1, and play in a Big 16 Conference challenge game on Friday, March 5.
The Niles junior varsity team beat Lakeshore 70-65. Lavette Walker led the Vikings with 24 points while Nate Orr added 17, Tom Robson scored 13 and Nick Johnson scored 12.
Lakeshore….70
Niles………….50
Lakeshore: Steve Hicks 1 1-1 3, Shane Soteriou 0 0-0 0, Hunter Wright 0 0-0 0, Logan Wilke 0 0-0 0, Shaine Tierney 5 0-0 11, Trent Frank 2 6-10 10, Dustin Barinka 0 0-0 0, Nick DeBoer 0 1-2 1, Ken Welch 0 0-0 0, Nick Freer 4 4-6 14, Jon Mierau 1 0-0 2, Rimas Varanauskas 4 5-9 13, Adam Benke 8 0-2 16. Totals: 25 17-30 70
Niles: Karyce Pulliam 0 0-0 0, Scott Quaye 0 0-0 0, Marcus Lawshea 2 2-2 7, Dane Ford 2 0-0 4, Ivery Cross 0 0-0 0, Kelby Jemison 1 0-0 2, Nate Parks 2 4-4 10, Paul Wreggelsworth 0 0-0 0, Adrian Davis 0 0-0 0, Ben Landgraf 0 0-0 0, Jason Rutkowske 0 0-0 0, Andrew Foster 0 0-0 0, Nick Etzcorn 3 0-0 6, John Kessick 5 0-1 10, Brian Ketchum 5 1-4 11. Totals: 20 7-11 50
Lakeshore 20 11 18 21--70
Niles 13 13 13 11--50
3-point shooting: Lakeshore 3 (Freer 2, Tierney), Niles 3 (Parks 2, Lawshea). Team fouls (fouled out): Lakeshore 15 (none), Niles 23 (Kessick). Team records: Lakeshore 11-5 (5-3 Big 16 West), Niles 4-12 (1-6)