PONTIAC  Short-handed and shortchanged were the operative words for Danville High School''s boys'' basketball team in Thursday''s opener of the 72nd Pontiac Holiday Tournament. The Vikings were without rebounding leader LeStan Hoskins (flu) and managed only one quality quarter against a Niles West opponent that improved to 6-3 with a 55-39 victory. Nearly half of Danville''s points came in the first period, when it jumped to a 19-14 lead. Joey Herring scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the opening quarter, and Ollie Harrison, who fouled out with 5:26 remaining, hit seven of his 12 in the first eight minutes. After making 9 of 13 shots in the first quarter, the Vikings were 8 for 30 thereafter. "We stressed pressuring their wings to take away their touches," Niles West coach Dave Genis said. "We let them get touches early and that let them get into their offense." Though Danville freshman Timothy Liggins made his varsity debut  scoring two points  the Wolves knew what to expect from the Vikings (5-5). "We were lucky enough to get film from one of the teams Danville played in the (Lincoln) Thanksgiving Tournament," Genis said. "We were prepared." The Vikings were still ahead at halftime (23-20) but fell behind for good (29-28) with 2:33 left in the third quarter. "We played a focused first half and did a nice job," Danville coach Scott Olson said, "but in the second half, it got more physical and we have to be tough enough to withstand that. Their guys made more plays." Herring not only led the Vikings in scoring but also in rebounding (eight), minutes played (30:03) and was the only starter to make at least half of his field goal attempts (7 for 12). "He did a lot of good things," Olson said. "He''s probably the one guy trying to get the guys going." The promotion of Liggins to the varsity for the Pontiac Tournament is part of what Olson called "open auditions" for playing time. Liggins had an auspicious debut. "He''s not ready for that level of play right now," Olson said. "We did that as a look-see." The biggest complaint Olson had with the newcomer was lack of intensity. "If he doesn''t make a play, he doesn''t play as hard as he needs to," Olson said. Both Danville and Niles West finished with 17 field goals, but the Vikings made two free throws. Niles West was 15 of 22 from the free throw line. Herring and Harrison combined for 27 of Danville''s 39 points. Hoskins'' absence removed a double-figure scorer from the lineup. Olson is optimistic the junior will make the trip from Danville today. "I''m sure he has to be real sick to miss a basketball game," he said. "All competitors would do whatever they can to be at a game." Danville returns to the court today for an 8 a.m. game against fourth-seeded Joliet, which was upset 92-87 by a Peoria Manual team that Danville defeated by two points last month. A victory would send the Vikings into another 8 a.m. game Saturday in the consolation bracket.