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Nix sets scoring mark as Niles North blows out Highland Park
Updated: January 26, 2013 12:08AM
HIGHLAND PARK — Highland Park controlled the opening tip and converted a layup within 10 seconds, but the momentum would be short-lived. Niles North rattled off 26 unanswered points to build an insurmountable lead en route to a 58-32 win Friday.
The Vikings (19-3, 7-0) remain undefeated in Central Suburban League play.
Senior Malachi Nix scored just six points in the win, but it was enough for a milestone. His old-fashioned three-point play with 2:52 remaining in the third period made him the school’s all-time leading scorer. Nix now has 1,303 career points, one better than Nick Williams’ mark.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling. I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” Nix said. “It’s awesome to get that record and leave my mark here at Niles North.”
With Nix off to a slow start, the Niles North offense turned to senior forward Billy Voitik. The Vikings big man scored all 15 of his points in the first half.
“We wanted to get him a lot of touches inside,” Vikings coach Glenn Olson said. “Our guys did a nice job of feeding him inside and Billy did a nice job of finishing around the rim.”
Led by Voitik’s 7-for-8 shooting, the Vikings finished the first 16 minutes of play 15 of 26 from the field. Niles North led 39-11 at the break.
During its scoring drought — which lasted 10 minutes, 51 seconds — Highland Park turned the ball over nine times and missed nine shots.
“A lot of things went our way in the first half,” Olson said. “We got on a little streak where everything we shot went in and we were able to convert turnovers into points.”
The only thing the Vikings did not do well was come out focused in the third stanza. Highland Park scored the first 12 points of the period but would come no closer than 16 points. David Sachs led the Giants with 11 points.
Niles North’s B.J. Beckford tied Voitik with 15 points.
Niles North 58, Highland Park 32
Niles North
Clanton 0 0-0 0, Nix 2 2-3 6, Dillard 6 0-1 12, Hanna 0 0-0 0, Beckford 4 4-4 15, Tate 0 0-0 0, Myles 0 0-0 0, Voitik 7 1-2 15, Sarris 1 0-0 2, Penn 0 2-2 2, Donado 0 0-0 0, Ranger 1 0-0 2, Tayloe 2 0-0 4, Dupree 0 0-0 0, Ahamed 0 0-0 0, Garcia 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 9-12 58.
Highland Park (9-10 overall, 4-3 CSL North)
Weiss 2 0-0 4, Bernstein 0 0-0 0, Kaplan 0 0-0 0, Sachs 5 1-2 11, Norcia 2 0-0 4, Deutsch 0 0-0 0, Wellek 0 0-0 0, Iden 0 0-0 0, Sutker 0 0-0 0, Sacks 0 0-0 0, Shrago 3 0-0 8, Saltzberg 1 1-2 3, Levin 0 0-0 0, B. Krawitz 0 0-0 0, Baim 0 0-0 0, J. Krawitz 1 0-0 2 Totals 14 2-6 32.
Niles North 12-27-11-8 — 58
Highland Park 2-9-14-7 — 32
3-point goals — Highland Park 2 (Shrago 2), Niles North 3 (Beckford 3). Team Fouls — Highland Park 15, Niles North 11
