GENEVA—Geneva used a 25-11 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away from visiting Berkshire on Saturday, 63-59.
Both teams used a flurry of runs throughout the back-and-forth affair until the Eagles made their move to down the Badgers.
“We talked about picking the energy up,” said Geneva head coach Eric Bowser. “We went into a full-court man press to stir things up.”
It was a balanced offensive attack for the Eagles leading them to the win.
Luke Barbo led the attack with 14 points, nine of which came in the final period, and Luke Smith contributed with 13 points and nine rebounds. Smith scored nine points in the first half.
Donnie Shymske came off the bench and added 12 points.
“Donnie came into the game and got us buckets when we needed it,” Bowser said. “Luke Smith is the leader of the group.”
Caden Proy came up big in the fourth quarter as well, finishing with six of his eight points in the frame including an and-one that pushed the Eagle lead to three.
“Caden did a really nice job of attacking and getting opportunities when presented,” Bowser said.
Berkshire trailed by five at the half, but the Badgers used a 13-7 at the beginning of the third quarter and took a 42-38 lead into the fourth.
“They were able to keep their composure,” said Bowser of his team. “It’s a great win against a good defensive team.”
Andrew Oros pitched in nine points with two steals while Hayden Diemer finished with three points and three blocked shots defensively. Jamil Daghlas and Bryce Peet finished with two points each.
Berkshire seemingly had the game secured before Geneva turned the tide.
“We shot the ball better tonight,” said Berkshire head coach Joe Montanaro. “It gave our defense confidence but at the end of the game we just got tired when Geneva put that run together.”
Miles Miller led all scorers with his game-high 21 points as he connected on seven triples, including five in the second half.
Gavin Hipp added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.
The moment never got too big for Montanaro and his team, continuing to fight to the end.
“They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them,” he said. “Our practices are really good; the younger guys push the vets and our older guys teach the younger players.”
Cameron Beam and Mason Mendolera both scored seven points for Berkshire, Jack Hastings pitched in with four, and Luke Stute finished with two.
Berkshire held a 12-11 lead heading into the second period when Shymske and Smith took over for the Eagles, scoring 12 of the team’s 16 second-quarter points on the way to a 27-22 halftime lead.
Hipp and Miller connected on four 3-pointers and scored a combined 18 points in the third quarter for the Badgers, who outscored the Eagles in the third quarter, 20-12.
The Eagles took control off the back of a 24-17 fourth-quarter advantage where Barbo and Proy scored all but nine points in the final frame.
Geneva improved to 6-2 and will open the New Year at home against Kirtland on Jan. 3 while Berkshire fell to 2-3 and will host Garrettsville Garfield on the same date.
