Geneva 54, Glenbard South 52

Recent history suggested Friday night's Western Sun Conference girls basketball game between Geneva and Glenbard South was going to be tight.

The last time the two teams met on Geneva's home floor, a year ago, the Vikings came out on top of a shootout. While this was not that sort of game, it did come down to the last minute, the last shot, and Lauren Wicinski's 19th and final rebound as the Vikings survived a wild finish and escaped with a 54-52 win.

The Raiders had three scoring opportunities during a hectic final 18 seconds, which must have seemed a whole lot longer for the Vikings.

"The girls played great team defense, and everyone did their part at the end," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said.

Nikki Simpson's three-point attempt from the top of the key with 4 seconds left was just long, and Wicinski wrestled control of the ball and cradled it as the horn sounded.

As Taylor Whitley dealt with foul trouble, and the Vikings struggled through several scoring droughts, Wicinski stepped up, scored 11, and kept Glenbard South's Maya Despot from taking over under the hoop.

"It was tough, and we all worked together to get those rebounds," Wicinski said.

The game got off to a slow and sloppy start, which surprised both coaches. When Despot scored her first hoop four and half minutes into the game it tied the score at 2.

"It could've gotten ugly real quick, but nothing was falling for either team," Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda said.

Once Whitley got rolling, so did the Vikings who closed out the first quarter leading 10-4. But just as she was getting into a rhythm, the Geneva guard had to sit down with two fouls, and the second quarter belonged to the Raiders.

Led by Danielle Pipal's hot shooting the Raiders scored 12 straight and got out to a 20-14 lead.

"Our offense was working," Fonda said. "They did everything I asked them to do tonight."

But Geneva (6-0, 2-0) made up the deficit in a hurry, and when Emily Hinchman completed the Viking comeback by hitting a buzzer-beater the two teams left the floor tied at 22.

The Raiders (5-2, 1-1) opened a 31-25 lead midway through the third quarter, and were up 39-37 early in the fourth, but Whitley hit a pair of key shots to help put her team in a position to win.

"Time was running out, both teams were battling, and everyone was playing their hearts out," Whitley said.