Geneva, D'Amico deliver

Jeremy D'Amico poured in 33 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and 7 points during the 4-minute extra session to lift Geneva's basketball team to a 58-48 Western Sun Conference victory over Glenbard South Friday night in Geneva.

With the win, the Vikings improved to 6-0, 2-0 in conference, while the Raiders, who led by as many as 5 points with 2:40 remaining in regulation, slipped to 4-1, 1-1.

After Matt Kuzniar's putback gave the Raiders a 44-41 lead with 41 seconds left in regulation, the Vikings got the ball in D'Amico's hands, and the team's top offensive threat delivered a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 44-44.

"I didn't hit a three all game (actually one) up until that point but luckily that one went down," said D'Amico, who virtually set up camp at the free-throw line throughout the contest, converting 17-of-26 foul shots.

"It's part of our offense," Vikings coach Phil Ralston said of D'Amico's ability to get to the free-throw line.

"Our goal is to make more free throws than the other team shoots. I haven't looked at the stats yet but I would bet that that happened tonight."

And then some, as the Vikings made 28 free throws while the Raiders attempted just 18 ­- making only 5.

"Free throws killed us," said Glenbard South coach Wade Hardtke. "It's been a struggle for us all season and it's something we've got to get switched around."

The Raiders, who committed just 2 first-half turnovers, led 14-12 after one quarter, 21-18 at halftime and 33-32 heading into the fourth period before ballhandling started becoming an area of concern.

Seven of Glenbard's 11 turnovers occurred during the fourth quarter and overtime period.

"Our biggest problem was taking care of the basketball," said Hartdke. "We've been preaching about it for three weeks. We ran into a good basketball club tonight and down the stretch it came back and bit us in the rear end.

"But you've got to hand it to them (the Vikings). D'Amico hit a huge shot there down the stretch and that was kind of the dagger. We deflated after that and we could never really get it going again."

Dennis Bolton (8 points) split a pair of free throws to put the Raiders on top 45-44 in the first minute of overtime but that would be their final lead of the night.

Fifteen seconds later, D'Amico's runner gave Geneva a 46-45 lead and the Vikings, who received added depth from the return of football players Michael Santacaterina, Brandon Beitzel and Sean Grady, scored their last 12 points at the foul line to put the game away.

"By and large, even when we didn't have the lead I felt we were in control of the game," said Ralston. "Sometimes we weren't very crisp in our offense.

"I don't know how much we can really expect out of these kids given what we've been dealing with, but we're certainly not going to be feeling sorry for ourselves about it. We're just going to do the best job we can, execute and get better."

Christian Frederking scored 5 of his 7 points in overtime for the Vikings, who have won their first 6 games while averaging just 53 points.

"Obviously, it's great for us to start this way," said Ralston. "Maybe we shouldn't be 6-0, maybe we should have lost to a couple teams by now, I don't know, but what I like about our kids is that they don't quit."

Ralondo Schumate led the Raiders with 13 points, while Jordan Harks added 12 before fouling out with 4:07 left in regulation.