Geneva wins thriller over Fremd for Wheeling title

Geneva coach Scott Hennig said that when he took over the program two years ago, one of the teams he wanted to model his team after was Fremd.

Hennig got an opportunity to get an upfront look at Fremd in the championship game of the 41st Wheeling Hardwood Classic. His Vikings were able to come on top of the Fremd Vikings 45-41 in game that was tight from start to finish.

"I am a new head coach and I want to make my program like Fremd's," Henning said. "I have so much respect for them. I am so proud of my kids. It is a great win for us."

It was the first Hardwood Classic title for Geneva (13-0). They have overcome doubters and a school strike to take their place as one of the top teams in the area heading into the second half of the year.

"We played a lot of different styles here," Hennig said. "It was cool to see team with really good competition and that should get us ready for the rest of the year."

It was like looking in a mirror for both Geneva and Fremd whose similar style features a slower pace and half court offenses.

And just like looking in a mirror, the teams traded the lead 9 times and had 2 ties in the first half with Geneva leading 26-23 at the break.

Geneva led 29-25 early in the third quarter when Fremd (11-3) made a break. Fremd ran off 7 unanswered points to forge ahead 32-29 on 3-pointer by Tim Carlisle.

It was back to lead changes and ties with the lead changing hands 3 more times. Geneva broke the only tie during that stretch and went ahead for good at 40-38 on a basket by Kross Garth (11 points).

Fremd added back a point on a free throw to make it 40-39. Fremd had the ball with a minute to play, but tournament MVP Jack McDonald stole the ball and swung it quickly up court to Mitch Mascari for a layup with 48 seconds left and a 42-39 lead,

"I saw him pivoted and I read his eyes and knew where he was going," said McDonald, who finished with 18 points.

"I shot the gap and got the steal and I found Mitch right away. That was huge."

Mascari had 3 three-pointers and finished with 14 points.

"When I saw him (McDonald) pick off that pass, I knew he was going to find me," Mascari said. "It was a fun time. No one thought we would win this and we just wanted to prove everyone wrong."

Bryce Hopkins (10 points) got Fremd back within one with a pair of free throws with 30.7 seconds left. McDonald and Mascari each added 2 free throws to close out the game for Geneva.

"It was great atmosphere for the Hardwood Classic championship," Fremd coach Bob Widlowski said. "It was a one-possession game. That was a great game to be in. We are disappointed we didn't come out on top."

Widlowski was pleased with his team, which went 3-1 in the tournament and had the 4 games decided by a total of 15 points including a 6-point double overtime win against Waukegan.

"I am really proud of the way we competed," Widlowski said. "We had 4 very competitive games and we are very pleased with our progress."

Smyros had 8 points for Fremd while Dean Ganas has 7 points.