Geneva’s bench responds

While Ashley Santos, Katelyn Allen and Kat Yelle took over down the stretch Tuesday at the Jacobs sectional, Geneva’s bench was the story of the first half.

Even when Santos went to the bench with 3 fouls, or Sammy Scofield went out with 2 fouls in the first quarter, someone kept coming in and doing the job.

First it was Rachel Hinchman, who had 2 points and 4 assists before she too picked up her third foul in the second quarter. Then it was Dori Rogers who came in for Hinchman and promptly knocked down an 18-foot baseline jumper.

Posts Brooke Binette and Sami Pawlak also provided a spark. Binette’s 15-foot jumper gave Geneva a 10-9 lead after the first quarter.

“Everyone has confidence in each other and it showed tonight,” Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. “That was just a great, great team effort. People coming off the bench and giving us minutes, helping defensively and hitting big shots.”

The Vikings wound up needing all those plays be each player to win. Allen sported an ice pack on her left shoulder after the game following a collision with Brea Edwards, but like her teammates there was nothing but a smile.

“Katelyn really came through tonight,” Santos said. “We really needed her on those 3s and she stepped up and made them. I’m really proud of her.”