Mascari's 3 lifts Geneva over Wheaton North in OT
It wasn't how Geneva drew it up, but the ball couldn't have ended up in better hands in a better spot on the court.
Trailing Wheaton North 65-63 in the closing seconds of overtime with their undefeated record on the line, Geneva senior Kross Garth grabbed an offensive rebound and looked to pass out.
Senior Mitch Mascari was wide open on the left wing beyond the arc, and Garth got the ball to him. Mascari, a 3-year starter shooting 45 percent from 3-point range who already had four 3s in the game, hit nothing but net, setting off a wild celebration and giving the Vikings a 66-65 victory in a nearly packed Geneva gymnasium.
That shot marked the 18th tie or lead change between two teams fighting for the DuKane Conference lead.
"I was just hoping it would go in," Mascari said. "I knew I was wide open and I was feeling it the whole game."
Officials put .8 seconds back on the clock after Mascari's shot. But Wheaton North's last-ditch full-court pass was deflected away, improving the Vikings to 14-0 overall and 4-0 in the DKC in their closest call yet of their perfect season.
"We know we're going to get everyone's best shot," Mascari said. "We know they are going to know all our plays. We have to really execute and play good defense."
Wheaton North (9-7, 4-1) led nearly the entire final three quarters including a 52-45 advantage with four minutes left. The Falcons were still up 58-53 with a minute remaining after two free throws from Deng Reng, who sank 11 of 12 at the line while leading his team with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.
Jack McDonald, like Mascari a 3-year starter, buried a 3-pointer to bring the Vikings within 58-56. That was the fourth of four straight 3s - two by McDonald and one from Garth and Garret Sneed - that Geneva needed to rally.
"We just refuse to lose," McDonald said. "We got a couple open looks and knocked them down when we needed to."
Wheaton North, who lost despite shooting 57 percent from the field and 79 percent at the line (19 of 24), missed two costly free throws with 29 seconds left.
Mascari tied the game with 2 free throws with 17 seconds remaining, and the Falcons failed to get off a potential game-winning shot before the buzzer sounded.
In overtime, after McDonald's conventional 3-point play on an off-balanced, high banker through the lane put Geneva ahead 63-62 - just its second lead since early in the second quarter - Reng tied the game with a free throw.
Geneva held for the final shot, but Reng stole the ball and was fouled with 25 seconds to go. He made both free throws for a 65-63 lead, setting up the Vikings' final possession that ended with Mascari's game-winning 3.
"He had lift, he had good spin on the ball and knocked it down," Geneva coach Scott Hennig said. "Mitch Mascari is one of the best shooters in the state."
Garrett Horner (13 points) and Jacob Schauer (12) joined Reng in double figures for the Falcons.
"They made a couple more shots than we did at the end," Falcons coach Dave Brackmann said. "I thought our kids played awesome. The last shot was kind of off a broken play. They got the loose ball in the right kid's hands at the right moment and knocked it down.
"You come into a game like that and try to contain those two kids (McDonald and Mascari) and it's really, really hard to do."
McDonald scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the second half and overtime. Mascari finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds. Geneva made all 9 of its free throws.
"They made plays, we made plays, we just had the ball last," Hennig said. "It was a heck of a game. We have nine seniors and they are tough kids and just want to win. Seniors win games especially in the league we are in."