Vikings Inch Closer to Conference Title with Victory Over Maine East

Emotions and high school students are like oil and water; they just don’t mix well.

Niles North (17-6, 7-2 CSL North) wasn’t immune to the extra emotions felt by any team playing on Senior Night when they hosted (3-20, 0-9 CSL North) on Friday. They led the CSL North bottom-feeder by only three points at halftime and looked out of sync early on. Niles North was uncharacteristically sloppy on the offensive end and a handful of turnovers didn’t help the cause.

But after halftime the Vikings put on a defensive clinic, holding Maine East to only two points in the third quarter and cruising to a 53-26 victory.

“In the course of the season you have a couple nights like this,” Niles North coach Glenn Olson said. “You saw us miss a bunch of tight layups and that was frustrating.”

Although the Vikings consistently attacked Maine East’s 2-3 zone defense with dribble penetration, Niles North was unable to finish short jumpers and shots near the rim on numerous possessions.

At the other end Maine East was patient, working the ball around the perimeter and attacking the basket at opportune moments. Guard Darnell Jones drove inside for a right-handed layup to give Maine East a one-point lead, 9-8, early in the second quarter.

But Malachi Nix hit two three-pointers before halftime and Niles North took a three-point lead, 17-14, into halftime.

“Shooters shoot and he was struggling a little bit, he was pressing [early in the season],” Olson said of Nix. “But I think he’s handled it well.”

Niles North’s pressure finally got to Maine East in the third quarter. After Maine East guard Aaron Shannon drove to the basket for two points only a minute into the half, the Vikings held Maine East scoreless for the rest of the quarter.

Their defensive pressure forced turnovers and led to easy buckets at the other end. After a steal by Sam Sharples midway through the third quarter, he led senior Earl Washington who threw it down for a one-handed slam.

“Coach has us in the gym every day and we have just been working hard,” Sharples said of the Vikings’ improved defense. “It’s getting closer to regionals so we all have to step it up.”

Niles North outscored Maine East 20-2 in the third quarter. Nix put the finishing touches on the Vikings’ victory when he nailed his fourth three-pointer of the night and was fouled. He finished the rare four-point play and Niles North led 45-21 with three minutes to go.

Nix had 15 points to lead Niles North’s balanced scoring attack. Shannon had 12 points to lead Maine East.

The win brought Niles North within one victory of guaranteeing at least a share of the CSL North championship, something the Vikings’ haven’t done in more than a decade.

That chance will come next Friday against , a team the Vikings have already defeated twice this season.

“There haven’t been many [championships] around here lately,” Olson said. “So I think the kids know what’s at stake.”