Geneva loses another in double overtime

Geneva will remember its finale at the 2014 Montini Christmas Classic as The One That Got Away.

The Vikings played from behind for most of their seventh-place game against Kenwood on Tuesday, catching the Broncos in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Geneva then took control in overtime on back-to-back baskets Janie McCloughan. After Margaret Whitley sank 2 free throws they held a 6-point lead with just a minute left and heading back to the line.

But the wheels came off in that last minute. Geneva missed the front end of two 1-and-1 free throw attempts. That opened the door for the Broncos, and Tarsheia Page capitalized with a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to a second overtime tied at 52.

Geneva had its chances in the second overtime but came up short, losing 61-57 to finish eighth in the tournament with losses in the last three games.

"You give up a 25-footer, it's luck but you finish at the free-throw line you don't have to worry about that," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "That's the bottom line. We have struggled with free throws all year. We practice them. It's mental. We have to get mentally tougher."

Geneva (11-3) played four overtimes the past two days, losing both games in double OT. The Vikings had to fight to get there Tuesday, trailing for almost all of the first three quarters.

Kenwood (12-4) took its biggest lead at 21-13 late in the second quarter. The Vikings made just 2 of 12 shots in the first quarter, had 11 first-half turnovers and were struggling to get anything going on offense before Courtney Reynolds came off the bench to drain two 3-pointers from the right corner and another baseline jumper for 8 straight Viking points that brought them within 25-23 at halftime.

"I'm happy for her," Meadows said. "She's been struggling a little and she put some time in the gym and it's starting to come around."

Geneva outscored Kenwood 7-6 in another low-scoring third quarter before both offenses perked up in an exciting, back-and-forth fourth quarter and two overtimes in a game with 17 ties or lead changes.

McCloughan, returning to action at this tournament from a concussion, only had 3 points in the first half before carrying the Geneva offense down the stretch. After a Kate Rogers 3-pointer drew the Vikings within 37-36, McCloughan drove to put the Vikings ahead 38-37 with four minutes left.

Alyssa Moore penetrated for a pair of Kenwood baskets matched by two McCloughan baseline jumpers for a 42-42 tie. Hydeia Thomas scored inside to put the Broncos up 44-42 before McCloughan found Abby Novak for a basket that tied the game again at 44 with 50 seconds remaining.

Both teams missed potential game-winning 3s, sending the game to overtime where Geneva quickly took its biggest lead of the game as McCloughan continued her roll, getting the ball at the high post and driving for a score.

Trailing 51-47 in the final seconds, Kenwood scored on a putback basket and then fouled Stephanie Hart with 4.2 seconds left. Hart split her free throws for a 52-49 Geneva lead, which the Broncos wiped out with a long pass to Page who swished a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

"I told them 4 seconds with a long pass we only get one dribble," Kenwood coach Andre Lewis said. "You are going to get a good look because nobody wants to foul in that situation. You just have to put it up and see what happens. Fortunately it fell."

"She hits that shot and it just takes the energy out of you," Meadows said.

Hart and Whitley went 4-for-4 at the line in the second overtime to leave Geneva tied at 56. The Broncos took a 58-56 lead on Scott's rebound basket off a missed free throw with 40 seconds left.

McCloughan split a pair of free throws to bring Geneva within 58-57. After Kenwood made two for a 60-57 lead, Whitley's potential game-tying 3 rimmed off.

McCloughan led Geneva with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Hart had 10 points and 5 boards and Novak finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Scott paced four Broncos in double figures with 16 points. They outrebounded Geneva 48-32.

"The kids just kept fighting," Lewis said. "When you coach a lot of young kids the hard thing is to keep playing, keep fighting through. You can't be afraid to make plays."

Kenwood overcame three players fouling out while Geneva played the entire tournament without center Grace Loberg, who was attending an Olympic volleyball camp.

"It's for sure frustrating," Meadows said of the 1-3 record. "We feel the last two got away from us. If we walk out of here 2-2 I'm happy with that."