Geneva rallies to sweep Batavia

Nate Navigato was once again the scoring leader for the Geneva boys basketball team Thursday night, but the squad could not have swept its season series against Batavia without Michael Landi.

Navigato, the Vikings' Buffalo-bound standout, led both teams in the Upstate Eight River game in Geneva with 23 points.

But it was Landi who hit a critical 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer and then scored 3 conventional field goals in the fourth quarter to help seal the Vikings' 57-47 victory.

With its eighth straight win, Geneva (17-2, 6-1) remains in a first-place tie with St. Charles East for River Division supremacy.

Batavia fell to 13-10, 3-6.

"Michael would be the first to tell you that's not the first shot we want him to take," Geneva coach Phil Ralston said of Landi giving Geneva a 39-36 lead to start the fourth quarter. "It was a huge momentum (swing)."

"It's been a while since I hit (a 3-pointer)," Landi said.

"If we rebound the ball (better) throughout the game, (the Landi 3-pointer) might be immaterial," Batavia coach Jim Nazos said.

Rebounding played a leading role in the Vikings' latest victory.

Including team rebounds, Geneva enjoyed a 33-14 advantage on the glass.

Batavia was limited to a lone rebound in the fourth quarter; more important, Geneva had 8 more offensive rebounds than the Bulldogs.

"We have a ton of size and like to use it," said Navigato, who had 6 of the Vikings' 8 unanswered points in the final minute to make the final score much wider than the game truly was.

Landi, who finished with 13 points, had a driving layup over Batavia post Chasen Peez after stealing the ball at half-court to break a 42-42 tie.

"The first Batavia game was fun, too," Landi said. "I just tried to fake (Peez) off the ball."

But Batavia sharpshooter Canaan Coffey hit a baseline-right 3-pointer - his third of the game - with four minutes and 11 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs their final lead.

Navigato converted two at the free-throw line on the ensuing possession, and Landi had an inside score after a Geneva stop to give the Vikings a 48-45 lead with 2:25 to play.

Batavia, which had only four players score, drew within 49-47 on Jacob Roberts' free throws with 1:12 to go.

But the Bulldogs would not score again, missing their final 4 shots, including three from beyond the arc.

It was an entirely different start to the game for Batavia.

Despite making only 3 conventional field goals, the Bulldogs went 5-for-8 from 3-point range in the first quarter alone to build a 17-10 lead after one.

Coffey and Roberts (13 points) hit two apiece; Peez (14 points) added another long bomb in the second.

Landi scored right before the halftime buzzer to give Geneva a 28-27 lead at the break.