Sports
Allen's Free Throws with 3.5 Second Left Lift Lady Vikings to Sectional Championship!
The girls basketball team has its third sectional championship in a row after Thursday night's heroic 55-53 win over Cary-Grove.
The Geneva girls basketball team earned its third sectional championship in a row Thursday night, as Katelyn Allen hit two free throws with 3. 5 seconds left to take a 55-53 win over Cary-Grove.
This team has been no stranger to ups and downs this season—both on and off the court—as coach Gina Nolan has battled back from cancer and chemotherapy to lead Geneva to the Zion/Barrington supersectional and a place as one of the state's elite.
On Thursday night in the class 4A Jacobs sectional title game, the Vikings showed the importance of working together and overcoming obstacles, and Nolan's team has done just that.
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Cary-Grove (27-4) struggled against Geneva (25-6) in the first half but was able to take advantage of Ashley Santos’ foul trouble in the third quarter. With three fouls, Santos came out of the game, and Cary-Grove was able to narrow the Vikings’ 38-24 lead, mostly through the efforts of senior Claire Jakubicek, who is playing at NIU next year and who lea her team with 23 points on Thursday night.
The Trojans took a 53-51 lead with 50 seconds left in the third quarter after causing several turnovers.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
With 30 seconds remaining, senior point guard Kat Yelle drove to the basket and converted a layup to tie it. Cary-Grove called a timeout with 14 seconds left.
Cary-Grove took the ball out at the sideline. Ashley Santos stole the pass and got the ball to Katelyn Allen, who was fouled as she shot with 3.5 seconds left. Allen hit both of her free throws to clinch the 55-53 win over the Trojans.
“The girls wanted this one bad,” said assistant coach Eric Duffet. “They played their hearts out, and they deserved the win.”
Kat Yelle led the Vikings with 19 points. Ashley Santos had 16 points, 14 of which came in the first half while the Vikings were widening their lead. Allen ended with 12 points.
Geneva will continue its season at the Barrington super-sectional. The girls will play at 7:30 on Monday night at Barrington High School against the winner of the Zion/Barrington sectional championship in Mundelein.
