Host Niles was no match for Benton Harbor in a SMAC West Division doubleheader Friday night.

The Vikings were defeated by the Benton Harbor girls team 75-35 on a night when the Tigers’ Kryse Gondrezick became the all-time leading scorer in southwest Michigan history.

In the boys game, Niles dropped a 73-51 decision to the state’s No. 10-ranked team.

Looking to avoid a fifth straight loss, Niles unfortunately ran into Gondrezick, who will play at the University of Michigan next year.

The Tigers used runs of 9-0 and 13-0 in the second half to increase the lead over the Vikings.

Still playing without Elyse Zimmerman, the Vikings double-teamed Gondrizeck with seniors Maya Brookins and Antonia Palmer at the start of the game, forcing turnovers.

In the end it wasn’t enough. Gondrezick ended up with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. She now has 2,460, passing St. Joseph’s Kim Knuth, who previously held the record with 2,422 (1991-94).

Niles was able to get double digit points from junior Emily Gaines (13) and senior Jazmin Brann (13). Brann nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.

Niles did, however, win the rebounding battle over the Tigers, edging them 38-37. Brann, Gaines, senior Antonia Palmer and sophomore Lajan Mitchell each had five or more rebounds in the game.

“We are going to continue to work hard at every practice,” Brookins said. “We still have a little under half the season to go. We just have to keep shooting, we missed a lot of shots out there tonight.”

The Vikings next game will be at home against conference foe Mattawan tonight.

Still looking to get back into the win column, the Niles boys basketball team faced the Tigers on homecoming Friday.

Niles junior forward Alex Harpenau started the game with a layup off a nice assist from senior teammate Gavin Rasler.

Benton Harbor’s game plan quickly came into action, beat defenders off the dribble and get to every ball on defense.

And it worked throughout the game, as they forced the Vikings into 18 turnovers.

I don’t think we played hard enough in the first half,” Niles Coach Todd Pawielski said.  “And in the second half we were marginally better.”

Benton Harbor also won the rebounding battle today too, 41-27.

“I was disappointed in our inability to box out tonight,” Pawielski said. “Against a good team like that, you have to rebound. They are quick.”

Niles was also without two starters tonight. Jacob Hamm has mono and will be out for a month, and Derek Brown sprained his ankle in Niles’ last game against Kalamazoo Central.

There were bright spots for the Vikings though.

“Bryce Lake came off the bench and hit some good shots for us and Dustin Anders had the best game of his varsity career tonight,” Pawielski said. “I credit Benton Harbor for what they have done so far this season. Coach Sterling has them playing at a very high level.”

Rasler finished 22 points, 10 rebounds and two assists for the Vikings. Sophomore point guard Chris Brown had four points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

The Vikings makeup a game at tonight.

 

GIRLS

BENTON HARBOR 75, NILES 35

At Niles

BENTON HARBOR 75

Janeeah Tinney 0, Briana Rimpson 0, Kryse Gondrezick 38, Jawana Young 18, Briana Buchanan 0, Ashley Mitchell 0, Na’chell Dudley 5, Ashante’ Jordan 0, Kaleia Easterling 4, Tamara Cloy 0, Kaniya Washington 4, Aliyah Payne 5. TOTALS: 31 8-16 75.

NILES 35

Taylor Gibson 0, Tegan Bays 0, Antonia Palmer 3, Maya Brookins 0, Alexis Preston 0, Emily Gaines 13, Aynslee Myer 0, Jaycee Myer 6, Jazmin Brann 13, Lajan Mitchell 0. TOTALS: 11 7-15 35.

Benton Harbor        14         33       51       75

Niles                           10         23       30       35

3-point baskets: Benton Harbor 5 (Gondrezick 3, Young 1, Dudley 1).  Niles 5 (Gaines 3, Jaycee Myer 1, Palmer 1). Rebounds: Benton Harbor 37 (Gondrezick 13. Rimpson 7, Easterling 4, Young 3, Washington 3, Payne 3, Jordan 2, Tinney 1, Cloy 1).  Niles 38 (Brown 9, Mitchell 7, Palmer 6, Gaines 6, Jaycee Myer 4, Preston 4, Brookins 2). Assists: Benton Harbor 11 (Gondrezick 6, Rimpson 2, Young 1, Mitchell 1, Easterling 1). Niles 8 (Brookins 2, Gaines 2, Brann 2, Preston 1, Jaycee Myer 1). Turnovers: Benton Harbor 12; Niles 16. Varsity records: Benton Harbor 6-6; Niles 5-8

 

BOYS

BENTON HARBOR 73, NILES 51

BENTON HARBOR 73

Roy Anderson 4, Elijah Baxter 2, Jaton Gunn 20, Cornelius Newby 0, Curtis Dawson 11, Shawn Hopkins 12, Jalon Stevens 7, Adrien Alexander 2, George Walker 4, Kenny Jackson 2, Travone Shannon 0, Milton McGee  8, Tim Bell 0. TOTALS: 29 10-14 73.

NILES 51

Donovan Jennings 3, Gatlin York 3, Derek Brown 0, Bryce Lake 6, Christopher Brown 4, Jacob Hamm, Alex Harpenau 6, Dustin Anders 0, Dawson Clemens 6, Tyler Phillips 3, Gavin Rasler 22, Devin Kuemin 0, Austin Curran 0. TOTALS: 22 4-12 51.

 

Benton Harbor        21         42       65       73

Niles                           9           19       40       51

3-point baskets: Benton Harbor 6 (Gunn 5, Stevens 1).  Niles 2 (Lake 2).

Rebounds: Benton Harbor 41 (Gunn 9, Dawson 8, Hopkins 8, Alexander 5, Shannon 3, McGee 3, Stevens 2, Anderson 1, Baxter 1, Walker 1).  Niles 27 (Rasler 10, Brown 7, Harpenau 4, Anders 3, Clemens 2, Phillips 1). Assists: Benton Harbor 10 (Anderson 4, Dawson 3, Hopkins 2, Stevens 1). Niles 12 (Brown 3, Harpenau 2, Anders 2, Clemens 2, Rasler 2, Phillips). Turnovers: Benton Harbor 10; Niles 18. Varsity records: Benton Harbor 11-2; Niles 1-8