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Methodically, Geneva bounces Buffalo Grove

In contrast to what Buffalo Grove had seen the previous evening against Niles North, the Bison's Friday night opponent was Geneva - slick, polished, efficient and deliberate.

Not to mention surgical, as the Vikings (8-4) dissected a still slightly bruised Buffalo Grove team 60-47 in a fifth-place bracket game at Wheeling's Hardwood Classic.

Geneva's predominantly underclass lineup went 10-of-17 on 3-pointers, mostly open looks based on efficient ball movement against Buffalo Grove's switching man-to-man and zone defenses.

The Vikings broke open a still close game with a 12-2 run to open the second quarter, powered by a Jack McDonald 3-pointer, two Jack Hood free throws a Mitch Mascari long-range 3 and his breakaway layup off a turnover. Just like that, it was 31-14.

Buffalo Grove could only get the lead down to 9, once on an 8-point run in the second quarter fueled by Connor Adams' steal, Zach Fricke's 3 and Tom Trieb's blocked shot and pure hustle to turn it into a 3-point play the hard way at the other end.

But most of Geneva's points and open looks, if not from the deliberately run offense, were on transition buckets set up by the defense.

"We focus on defense more than offense," said Mascari (19 points, 5-of-6 on 3s).

And despite being a young team, these players are familiar with one another. Mascari and point guard McDonald have been playing together since grade school.

"I've played with him forever," said Mascari. "We're really good friends."

It shows. McDonald, when he wasn't making a steal, forcing a turnover or hitting a 3-pointer of his own, was setting up his teammates and skillfully running the show.

Vikings coach Scott Hennig likes what he is seeing from his young lineup. How young? Well, four of five starters are underclassmen, including 6-7 sophomore Nick Santos, who made it tough on 6-0 Jack Vaselaney to get the looks he's accustomed to.

"Santos was on Vaselaney - he's one of the best guards in their (Mid-Suburban) conference," Hennig said of putting one of his best defenders on the three-year starting Bison point guard. Vaselaney finished with 11 points, but on 4-of-11, tough-luck shooting.

Geneva maintained command in the second half as Mascari added two more 3-pointers, Santos hit one and junior forward Kross Garth had two buckets. Mac Camardo, playing with a tightly bandaged left side of his nose after taking an elbow Thursday night against Niles North, had 10 points. But the Bison were still without quick guard Caleb Mayhorn, also injured against North.

"He would've helped," said BG coach Keith Peterson, "but they (Geneva) run their stuff really well. They had a lot of open looks."

"We were a little mentally worn out. Physically, we're a little banged up."

Geneva will play Glenbrook South on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. for fifth place after the Titans defeated Fremd. South is coached by Phil Ralston, to whom Hennig was an assistant for nine years at Geneva.

"He's like a mentor to me," said Hennig.

Buffalo Grove, meanwhile, will play Mid-Suburban League rival Fremd for seventh place at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.

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