NILES Rebuilding the Niles boys basketball program wont be easy, and first-year coach Patrick Touhey knows it.

But the former coach of the Vikings girls team also believes there are more things than a basketball game, which his team lost Tuesday night 72-47 to Kalamazoo Central.

Our won-loss record (2-8) isnt showing up right now, said Touhey, a life coach when he isnt coaching. A lot of times were right there with most teams and we had a few get away at the end. But were learning how to compete and get after it. Were earning some respect.

Niles' Demarien Nichols, front and Leon Williams fight with Kalamazoo Central's Dayvion Smith for a loose ball during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Zach Stokes and Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis fight for a loose ball during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Kalamazoo Central's Trevon Gunter knocks the ball away from Niles' Michael Gilcrese during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Cerious Wilson tries to keep the ball away from Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis and Danny Primer during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas tries to get past Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Leon Williams gets fouled by Kalamazoo Cenral's Jayvion Henry during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Brayden Lake drives past Kalamazoo Central's Dayton Smith during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Joe Bartkowiak shoots over Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Michael Gilcrese drives past Kalamazoo Central's Thomas Dillard IV during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles head coach Patrick Touhey reacts during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Zach Stokes defends Kalamazoo Central's Gerald Crawford during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Cerious Wilson shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Damarion Nichols drives past Kalamazoo Central's Gerald Crawford during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Michael Gilcrese shoots over Kalamazoo Central's Trevon Gunter during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Demarien Nichols, front and Leon Williams fight with Kalamazoo Central's Dayvion Smith for a loose ball during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Zach Stokes and Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis fight for a loose ball during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Kalamazoo Central's Trevon Gunter knocks the ball away from Niles' Michael Gilcrese during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Cerious Wilson tries to keep the ball away from Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis and Danny Primer during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas tries to get past Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Leon Williams gets fouled by Kalamazoo Cenral's Jayvion Henry during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Brayden Lake drives past Kalamazoo Central's Dayton Smith during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Joe Bartkowiak shoots over Kalamazoo Central's Justin Davis during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Michael Gilcrese drives past Kalamazoo Central's Thomas Dillard IV during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles head coach Patrick Touhey reacts during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Zach Stokes defends Kalamazoo Central's Gerald Crawford during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Cerious Wilson shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Adrian Thomas shoots during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Damarion Nichols drives past Kalamazoo Central's Gerald Crawford during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Niles' Michael Gilcrese shoots over Kalamazoo Central's Trevon Gunter during the Kalamazoo Central at Niles High School boys basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 at Niles High School.

Touheys Vikings never led in the game against the Maroon Giants, who hit 29 of 57 (51%) from the field with 10 of the baskets from behind the 3-point line. Niles hit just 40% (19 of 47). And 23 turnovers especially hurt the Niles cause.

Scott Hughes scored 15 points, Travion Farris had 13 and Gerald Crawford 12 for Ramsey Nichols Maroon Giants (7-3). Cerious Wilson, who transferred to Niles after being the quarterback for Cassopolis in the fall, came off the bench to score 13 points. Demarien Nichols had eight and Adrian Thomas and Brayden Lake had seven each.

We need to take care of the basketball, Touhey said. The other thing was we need to sustain balance on the boards.

The Vikings did that, finishing with a 32-30 edge in rebounding.

I love where the kids are right now, Touhey said. No matter what were experiencing, whether were successful or in adversity and being challenged, the one thing that never gets compromised is the effort were giving, what kind of care were showing, what kind of love weve got for each other. Thats the message we want to send to the community and the school.

The Vikings made nine of their turnovers in the first quarter as the Maroon Giants jumped out to a 5-0 lead thanks to Hughes 3-pointer and his two free throws. He finished with 11 points in the first quarter as Central finished the quarter on a 10-4 run to lead 19-12 after the first break.

The Giants then extended the lead to 42-22 on Gerald Crawfords basket with 1:50 remaining in the first half. It was the last scoring of the first half. Farris had eight points in the second quarter.

Kalamazoo Central extended the lead to 58-29 after three quarters. But the Vikings outscored the visitors 18-14 in the final quarter with Wilson scoring six points with a pair of 3-pointers and Nichols adding five.

Niles is home for a Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division game Friday against Mattawan at 7 p.m.

KALAMAZOO CENTRAL 72, NILES 47

KALAMAZOO CENTRAL (72): Jayvion Henry 2, Scott Hughes 15, Gerald Crawford 12, Mohamed Kamara 3, Trevon Gunter 8, Dayvion Smith 7, Thomas Dillard 2, Travion Farris 13, Danny Primer 8, Justin Davis 2.

NILES (47): Adrian Thomas 7, Demarien Nichols 8, Zach Stokes 2, Brayden Lake 7, Michael Gilcrese 4, Cerious Wilson 13, Jordan Jones 0, Joey Bartkowiak 2, Mason Henderson 4, Leon Williams 0, Nolan Garrard 0.

3-point goals: Kalamazoo Central 10 (Hughes 3, Farris 2, Primer 2, Gunter 2, Smith 1), Niles 6 (Wilson 3, Nichols 1, Thomas 1, Lake 1). Total fouls (fouled out): Kalamazoo Central 14 (none), Niles 12 (none). Records: Kalamazoo Central 7-3, Niles 2-8. J.V. score: Kalamazoo Central 62, Niles 51.

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Another lesson learned for Niles in loss to Kalamazoo Central - South Bend Tribune