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Geneva clinches share of UEC River

Elgin girls basketball coach Nick Bumbales had little desire for sympathy from Geneva Friday night at the schools' Upstate Eight River game.

"They're getting ready for the state tournament," Bumbales said of the Vikings. "I talked to the coach (Sarah Meadows) before the game. I didn't want them doing us any favors. They have to get ready for the tournament."

The Vikings were unrelenting the entire game on the defensive end, forcing countless turnovers while limiting the Maroons to 3 total field goals.

The result was a 65-7 victory for Geneva, which clinched a share of its fifth consecutive division crown.

The Vikings (18-6, 12-1) can claim the outright title with a win over Larkin next week in Elgin.

Geneva has at least shared the title ever since joining the league in 2010.

The Maroons' Alisha Panthier scored the opening bucket of the game, but it was all Geneva for the remainder of the half.

Elgin (4-21, 0-13) would not score again until Leesa Mena and Mimi Hernandez scored two possessions apart late in the second quarter.

The Vikings scored 26 unanswered points during the Maroons' drought.

Forward Abby Novak was particularly active for the Vikings, grabbing 4 rebounds, swiping 3 loose balls for steals and adding a 3-point play.

Normal starters Grace Loberg, Margaret Whitley and Stephanie Hart gave way to seniors Courtney Reynolds, Cheyenne Vieau and Emma Peters.

Janie McCloughan occupied her customary starting forward slot, and Kate Rogers, the final senior on the team, was the sixth man.

"Senior night is definitely kind of surreal," said Novak, who scored 7 points in limited time. "Hopefully it's not the last game on our home court."

Geneva hosts a sectional starting Feb. 23.

Loberg scored all 8 of her game-high points in succession late in the first quarter, and Geneva entered the halftime locker room with a commanding 32-6 lead.

McCloughan finished with 6 points.

Reynolds and Vieau each had 3-pointers in combining for 9 more points.

Peters' 7 points included a team-high five in the fourth quarter.

Elgin missed all 13 of its second-half field-goal attempts.

Marisol Luevano converted a free throw 14 minutes and 47 seconds into the second half for the Maroons' final point.

"Being in a good spot like this (for the conference race), it's comforting to know that we've been here before," McCloughan said. "You have to play (the Larkin game) like it's the postseason."

Thirteen of the 16 Geneva players who saw action scored.

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