DeKalb 74, Geneva 61

There were too many villains for the Geneva boys to contain in the nightcap of Monday's Western Sun Conference boys-girls basketball doubleheader.

From DeKalb sophomore Jordan Threloff controlling the paint, the all-around floor play of point guard Jon Umoren and the 16 points delivered by Tyler Smith in the fourth quarter, the Vikings' league aspirations took a fatal blow with a 74-61 defeat.

The only team to defeat league-leader Batavia in conference this season, the Vikings (14-9 overall) suffered their third loss against 8 wins in league action, trampled by a 26-point DeKalb outburst in the final quarter.

Taking advantage of the Vikings' foul difficulties -- DeKalb (12-10, 7-3) was in the double bonus before the end of the third quarter -- the Barbs drained 12 straight in the final quarter.

"(There were) way too many fouls for how we need to play," said Geneva coach Tim Pease. "Way too many stoppages in play. It seemed like it was a parade to the free-throw line for them in the fourth quarter. But some of that was we were trying to get extra possessions."

Threloff scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked 7 shots.

But Geneva had its fair share of answers for the Barbs' 6-foot-10 sophomore center.

Geneva fought back behind the inside-outside play of Max Carey, plus the efforts of frontcourt mates Chris Jordan and Brandon D'Amico.

Carey collected his team-high 20 points through the first three quarters, draining three 3-pointers to augment some slashing moves in the paint.

Jordan had 16 of his 18 points after intermission, matching the rebounding total of Threloff with a dozen while blocking a 3 shots.

D'Amico added 12 points.

Geneva led only twice the whole game, and the second advantage -- 29-27 late in the first half -- was negated when Omoren (20 points) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help stake the Barbs to a 34-31 lead at the break.

Cary picked up his fourth foul in the waning seconds of the third quarter, but Threloff had to leave early in the fourth with his fourth.

Jordan took advantage, scoring half his total in the quarter.

"Once (Threloff) went out, we knew we had to make our comeback," Jordan said. "As a team, we didn't do as well on defense."

DeKalb led 48-45 entering the fourth quarter, and Geneva had few answers for Smith, who scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the final eight minutes.

"We have been playing really well lately," said DeKalb coach Dave Rohlman. "That's probably the best win we've had in the streak."