Boys Basketball: Niles North rolls by Wheeling

Updated: December 28, 2011 9:02PM

In the first half of the Niles North-Wheeling basketball game, No. 2 on Niles North poured in 11 points as the Vikings rolled to a 45-18 halftime lead. In the second half, No. 50 for North added nine points in the 63-42 romp over winless Wheeling.

Wearing both jerseys in this afternoon game on Wednesday was North guard Malachi Nix.

“I had blood on my jersey,” Nix said. “I have no idea how it got there. So I had to wear a loaner jersey.”

The inexperienced Vikings are going through growing pains but in this game Niles North hit six three-pointers in the first half and pulled away quickly in the 34th annual Wheeling Wildcat Harwood Classic.

“We had a great first half,” said Niles North coach Glenn Olson. “We got contributions from everyone. We are still a work in progress but I was very pleased with the effort of our kids.”

The home team from Wheeling actually surged to a quick 7-2 lead. And the Wildcats also had a spirited three-point show from sophomore Jeremy Stephani. Aided by three second half three-pointers, he led Wheeling with 20 points.

Actually the first Stephani bucket led directly to a 21-3 run by the Vikings.

Tafari Beckford (16 points) had a personal eight point run to open the second quarter. This junior guard had three three-pointers in the second quarter.

“We saw a zone,’’ Olson said. “And when you see one, you get some wide open shots. Today we knocked them down.”

The Vikings (6-5) were on a pace to score 90 points in this game. But Niles North couldn’t keep up that pace and the Wheeling offense also woke up. In addition to Stephani’s heroics, Wheeling had some good inside player from senior Kevin Leska (six points).

Nix opened the second half with yet another three-pointer as the North lead swelled to 30 points (48-18). However, the Vikings didn’t score again until four minutes came off the clock. In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats played chase. Niles North practiced its slow down game with both the first string and second string. Niles North scored only six points, four by Nix, in the final eight minutes. Nix’s teammate, Mychael Henley, scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half. Badral Enkh-Ulzii added eight points for the Vikings.

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