Niceville whips Tate in district quarters

    The Niceville boys’ basketball team needed just one quarter to ensure a District 1-5A tournament semifinal bid was a sure thing.
    The top-seeded Eagles pounced on eighth-seeded Tate on Monday in the quarterfinals at Pace, rolling up a 26-7 lead after one period on their way to an 80-49 victory.
    Thirteen players scored for Niceville (21-5), with Ty Friedlund leading the way with 14 points. Robert Brooks added 11 and Kody Williams chipped in 10.
    The district semifinals take place Friday.

Tate                              7 19 9 14 - 49
Niceville                     26 17 18 19 - 80
TATE (49)
Jones 2, Lomac 12, Wallace 4, Purifay 4, McCulley 9, Ford 2, Adney 2, Barge 14. Totals: 8 10 3-11 49.
NICEVILLE (80)
Ty Friedlund 14, Kody Williams 10, Zeus King 6, Gabriel Strutchen 3, Brad Koszuta 3, Ramoane Jordan 4, Tory Kirkwood 5, Jonathan King 6, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 11, Travis Beals 4, Billy Billings 6, Theron Rashard 6. Totals: 24 6 14-25 80.

Niceville 59, Gulfport 57, OT:
     Niceville let Gulfport (Miss.) rally in the second half to force the extra period, but came away with the win regardless.
     Tory Kirkwood led the Eagles with 16 points, while Ramoane Jordan added nine.
     Late Friday, Kirkwood scored 22 to lead Niceville to an 81-70 victory over Hattiesburg (Miss.). Kody Williams scored 14 points, while Jordan had 12 and JaDarren Miller contributed 11.
     The Eagles (15-4) host Fort Walton Breach on Friday.

Gulfport                         7 17 16 12 5 - 57
Niceville                        10 19 11 12 7 - 59
GULFPORT (57)
English 2, Evers 4, Holmes 3, Allison 3, Newsome 7, Broadnax 25, A. walker 6, R. Walker 3, Wharton 2, Logan 2. Totals 15 6 9-19 57.
NICEVILLE (59)
JaDarren Miller 5, Kody Williams 7, Zues King 3, Brad Koszuta 2, Ramoane Jordan 9, Tory Kirkwood 16, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 8, Travis Beals 4, Billy Billings 3. Totals 21 3 8-18 59.

Hattiesburg                   12 21 14 23 - 70
Niceville                        17 20 24 20 - 81
HATTIESBURG (70)
James 20, Whiteside 8, Hunter 2, Woods 8, McKinley 10, Thompson 2, martin 20. Totals 21 3 17-21 70.
NICEVILLE (81)
Ty Friedlund 4, JaDarren Miller 11, Kody Williams 14, Gabriel Strutchen 2, Ramoane Jordan 12, Tory Kirkwood 22, Steve Dyson 4, Robert Brooks 2, Travis Beals 2, Billy Billings 6, Theron Reshard 2. Totals 30 4 9-18 81.

Niceville boys hoops wins Arnold Christmas Tourney title

    Niceville’s boys basketball team raced out to a big lead after the first quarter and cruised to the title at the Arnold Christmas Tournament with a 77-66 win over Ridgeview on Saturday.
    Tory Kirkwood led the way for the Eagles with 17 points, while Ty Friedlund added 15 and Ramoane Jordan contributed 14.
    The Eagles (14-2) travel to Fort Walton Beach on Friday.

Niceville                         23 29 12 13 - 77
Ridgeview                      14 17 20 15 - 66
NICEVILLE (77)
Ty Friedlund 15, JaDarren Miller 8, Zues King 1, A,.J, Tillman 4, Ramoane Jordan 14, Tory Kirkwood 17, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 5, Eric Thorpe 5, Billy Billings 6, Theron Reshard 2. Totals 25 5 11-23 77.
RIDGEVIEW (66)
Kohn 15, Miller 14, Brooks 11, Broom 12, Wilson 6, Adams 6. Totals 17 7 11-20 66.

Niceville boys defeat Milton to advance to title game

    The Niceville boys basketball team turned a small halftime deficit into a big third-quarter lead and finished off Milton in a 52-44 victory on Friday in the semifinals of the Arnold Christ-mas Tournament.
    The Eagles (13-2) play Orange Park Ridgeview in the championship game tonight at 7:15.
    Niceville was down 20-18 at the intermission, but outscored the Pan-thers 17-5 in the third period to storm ahead.
    Tory Kirkwood led the way for Niceville, pouring in a game-high 19 points. Ty Friedlund was also in double figures with 10.

Niceville                         9 9 17 17 - 52
Milton                           12 8 5 19 - 44
NICEVILLE (52)
Ty Friedlund 10, Gabriel Strutchen 7, Ramoane Jordan 7, Tory Kirkwood 19, Steve Dyson 4, Travis Beals 1, Billy Billings 4. Totals 12 4 16-24 52.
MILTON (44)
Jernigan 4, Smith 6, Alexander 2, Washington 7, Allen 16, Ellis 3, Riley 4, McCloud 2. Totals 13 1 15-19 44.

Niceville 54, Pace 49: Niceville rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out the District 1-5A victory.
    Ty Friedlund had a teamhigh 15 points for the Eagles, while Kody Williams added 11.
    The Eagles (9-2, 6-1 district) play Pensacola Catholic at the Marlin Christmas Classic.

Pace                             5 16 21 7 - 49
Niceville                       8 12 15 19 - 62
PACE (49)
Mullahey 8, Wright 20, Adams 2, Fruge 11, Munoz 6, Smith 2. Totals 15 3 8-12 49.
NICEVILLE (54)
Ty Friedlund 15, JaDarren Miller 4, Kody Williams 11, Gabriel Strutchen 9, Ramoane Jordan 5, Tory Kirkwood 8, Robert Brooks 2. Totals 11 7 11-20 54. JV: Niceville, 60-51

Niceville 62, Vigor 56:
     Robert Books scored 14 points as the Eagles rode a big first quarter to victory.
    Tory Kirkwood was also in double figures for Niceville with 10 points.
    The Eagles host Choctawhatchee on Friday.

Vigor                       10 12 16 18 - 56
Niceville                    22 7 14 19 - 62
VIGOR (56)
Ray 7, Gill 3, Horne 7, Davis 15, Lewis 4, Grimes 3, Shinn 17. Totals 14 4 16-17 56.
NICEVILLE (62)
Kody Williams 7, Zues King 2, Gabriel Strutchen 2, Ty Friedlund 4, Ramoane Jordan 8, Tory Kirkwood 10, Jevon Tinker 3, Steve Dyson 1, Robert Brooks 14, Travis Beals 6, Theron Reshard 5. Totals 20 4 10-14 62.

Pensacola 74, Niceville 68:
     A slow start doomed the Eagles against the Tigers on the opening day of the Choctawhatchee Indian Challenge.
    Pensacola jumped out to a 13-point lead at the half and then held off the Eagles down the stretch.
    Kody Williams led Niceville in scoring with 17 points. Ty Friedlund added 11.
    Niceville (6-2) meets Mobile Ala., Vigor today at 5:30 as the Indian Challenge continues.

Pensacola                 22 22 16 14 - 74
Niceville                    12 19 19 18 - 68
PENSACOLA (74)
Edwards 1, Lutley 9, White 1, Straughn 20, Evans 4, Maxwell 3, Beasley 16, Owens 21. Totals 23 3 19-29 74.
NICEVILLE (68)
Ty Friedlund 11, Jadarren Miller 5, Kody Williams 17, Zeus King 2, Gabriel Strutchen 3, Ramoane Jordan 7, Tory Kirkwood 7, Steve Dyson 4, Robert Brooks 10, Theron Reshard 2. Totals. 16 7 12-24 68.

Niceville 62, Rutherford 51:
     Robert Brooks had 12 points and eight rebounds as the Eagles’ quick start led them to a non-district victory.
    Ramoane Jordan also had 12 points for Niceville, which got points from 11 different players.
    The Eagles (6-1) play Pensacola in the Choctaw Challenge on Monday.

Niceville                  16 17 19 10 - 62
Rutherford                 8 16 18 9 - 51
NICEVILLE (62)
Ty Friedlund 6, JaDarren Miller 5, Kody Williams 8, Gabriel Strutchen 3, Ramoane Jordan 12, Tory Kirkwood 7, Jevon Tinker 3, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 12, Billy Billings 2, Theron Reshard 2. Totals 17 6 12-13 62.
RUTHERFORD (51)
McCray 5, Jackson 14, Mack 18, Austin 12, Carrison 2. Totals 15 3 12-19 51.
JV: Niceville, 60-53

Niceville 66, Rutherford 64:
     The Eagles got a 10-point lead after the first quarter and held on the rest of the way in a nondistrict game.
     Robert Brooks scored a team-high 12 points for Niceville, while Ramoane Jordan had 10.
      The Eagles (4-1) travel to Choctawhatchee on Tuesday.

Rutherford                9 17 13 25 - 64
Niceville                   19 16 11 20 - 66
RUTHERFORD (64)
McCray 10, Briggs 10, Jackson 7, Mack 2, Austin 27, Jack 8. Totals 15 7 13-19 64.
NICEVILLE (66)
Ty Friedlund 9, JaDarren Miller 7, Kody Williams 4, Gabriel Strutchen 9, Brad Koszuta 2, Ramoane Jordan 10, Tory Kirkwood 8, Robert Brooks 12, Travis Beals 5. Totals 13 7 19-25 66.
JV: JV: Rutherford, 55-53

Niceville 77, Crestview 53: Ra
moane Jordan led three Eagles in double figures as they coasted in a District 1-5A contest.
     Jordan had a team-high 14 points, while Ty Friedlund had 11 points and Gabriel Strutchen scored 10.
     Chris Pickett led Crestview with a game-high 22 points.
     The Eagles (3-1, 3-1 district) host Rutherford today.

Crestview               10 11 7 25 - 53
Niceville               17 25 14 20 - 77
CRESTVIEW (53)
Keyshawn Thomas 2, Cory Wenrich 8, Chris Pickett 22, Demetrius Dargan 4, Darius Applewhite 4, Cody Hancock 6, Matt Sanders 7. Totals 13 6 6-21 53.
NICEVILLE (77)
Ty Friedlund 11, JaDarren Miller 5, Kody Williams 4, Zues King 4, Gabriel Strutchen 10, Brad Koszuta 6, Ramoane Jordan 14, Tory Kirkwood 5, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 4, Travis Beals 3, Eric Thorpe 2, Billy Billings 6, Theron Reshard 1.
Totals 13 10 21-26 77.
JV: Niceville, 60-26

Niceville edges Pine Forest
     Jaddaren Miller scored a game-high 18 points as Niceville from behind to beat Pine Forest 69-68 in boys District 1-5A basketball Saturday night.
     The host Eagles, who trailed the visiting Eagles from Pensacola 35-20 at the half, cut the Pine Forest lead to three points at the end of the third quarter and then completed the completed the comeback in the fourth to win in regulation.
     Miller was joined in double figures by Robert Brooks with 14 points and Tory Kirkwood with 11.
     Niceville (2-1, 2-1) hosts Pace on Thursday.
     Niceville also won the JV game.

Pine Forest          21 14 18 15 - 68
Niceville                6 14 30 19 - 69
PINE FOREST (68)
Wright 1, McCant 12, Strouas 4, Jones 4, Soulsberry 12, Jones 4, Alexander 7, Maldin 1, English 1, Soulsberry 12, Stonewall 2, Broadny 3, Bryant 7, Rolland 17. Totals 21 2 20-32 68.
NICEVILLE (69)
Ty Friedlund 4, Jadarren Miller 18, Kody Williams 8, Ramoane Jordan 2, Tory Kirkwood 11, Steve Dyson 5, Robert Brooks 14, Gabriel Strutchen 6, Theron Reshard 1. Totals 22 3 16-25 69.

Niceville 73, Tate 62:
     JaDarren Miller scored 17 points as the Eagles rode a second-half surge to a District 1-5A win.
     Tory Kirkwood added 16 points for the Eagles, while Robert Brooks contributed 11.
     The Eagles (1-1, 1-1 district) host Pine Forest today.

Niceville                       11 16 22 24 - 73
Tate                              8 22 12 19 - 62
NICEVILLE (73)
Ty Friedlund 6, JaDarren Miller 17, Jonathan King 2, Ramoane Jordan 8, Tory Kirkwood 16, Steve Dyson 6, Robert Brooks 11, Billy Billings 2, Kody Williams 5. Totals 21 5 16-24 73.
TATE (62)
Lomax 17, Wallace 3, Jackson 4, Abriy 6, Drakeford 4, Purifoy 9, Barge 15, McCulley 4. Totals 16 6 12-13 62.
JV: Niceville, 71-65

Escambia 65, Niceville 62:
     Niceville struggled in the second quarter and could not come back in its season opener.
     Tory Kirkwood led the Eagles with 16 points, while Ty Friedlund added 11.
     The Eagles (0-1) travel to Tate on Friday.

Escambia             12 17 17 21 - 65
Niceville                13 8 18 23 - 62
ESCAMBIA (65)
Taylor 6, Bedden 5, Massenburgh 5, Dukes 14, Jones 10, Flanary 2, King 4, Richardson 5, Lucas 3, Dorsey 5.
Totals 18 6 13-28 65
NICEVILLE (62)
Ty Friedlund 11, JaDarren Miller 6, Kody Williams 4, Ramoane Jordan 6, Tory Kirkwood 16, Steve Dyson 2, Robert Brooks 5, Gabriel Striuchen 2, Jevon Tinker 4, Theron Rashard 1, Billy Billings 5. Totals 20 3 13-16 62.
JV: Escambia won