Mitch Mascari’s three-pointer in OT beats Wheaton North, keeps Geneva unbeaten

A few of the shots Jack McDonald pulled off on Friday are going to elicit some serious groans from the Wheaton North coach staff when they go back and watch the film.

Geneva’s 5-11 senior point guard hit a crucial three-pointer in the final minute of regulation after doing a 360-degree spin. Several of his drives to the basket looked like desperation heaves but then had the proper spin to fall right through the net.

Then the big play came in overtime. The No. 8 Vikings trailed by two and their last play, designed to get the ball to sharpshooter Mitch Mascari, didn’t work.

“[Wheaton North] switched so well for me I couldn’t get open,” Mascari said.

So McDonald drove to the basket instead. He missed the shot but Kross Garth grabbed the rebound, turned around and fired the ball to Mascari, who was now wide open with just a two seconds remaining.

“[Garth] is so good at kicking it out when he gets those rebounds that I knew he was going to find me,” Mascari said. “Honestly I was just hoping it was going to go in. I knew I was wide open and I was feeling it the whole game. It went in.”

The Vikings win 66-65 in overtime and remain a perfect 14-0, 4-0 in the DuKane.

“I thought I drew a foul there and they didn’t call it,” McDonald said. “Mitch was there wide open somehow. As soon as he shot it from my angle I knew it was in. It was crazy.”

McDonald scored 28 points. His ability to make big plays consistently kept Geneva in the game, right up until the final moments.

“Jack McDonald was awesome,” Vikings coach Scott Hennig said. “Mascari is one of the best shooters in the state in my opinion. I know Kross didn’t score but i thought he played a good floor game.”

Wheaton North’s Matthew Brend (11) get to the rim against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Matthew Brend (11) slows the ball down against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Deng Reng (23) looks across court for an open player against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Garrett Horner (35) pulls up a three point shot, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Garrett Horner (35) gets past Geneva’s Mitch Mascari (22), Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Garrett Horner (35) scores on Geneva’s Mitch Mascari (22), Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s bench cheers. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Matthew Brend falls down against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Kross Grath (23) holds the ball away form Wheaton North’s Sam Hacker (33), Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Ben Johnson (12) and Wheaton North’s Deng Ring (23) fights for a rebound, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Jack McDonald (3) makes his way to the basket, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Casey Gray (30) and Ben Johlie (0) battle Wheaton North’s Xander Mueller (44) over a rebound, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Jack McDonald (3) drives down the baseline against Wheaton North, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Geneva’s Mitch Mascari (22) fires up a shot against Wheaton North, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Deng Reng (23) hauls in a rebound against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Wheaton North’s Deng Reng (23) cliches the ball against Geneva, Friday 01-04-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Mascari scored 23 points and grabbed five rebounds. He was 6-for-11 from three-point range.

Geneva trailed by seven with four minutes left in regulation. There was a big crowd in the gym and a big student section, but neither were very loud and the Vikings seemed listless. That changed quickly.

“We weren’t really stressing,” Mascari said. “We know we always do a great job of closing out the fourth quarter.”

Deng Reng, a 6-7 senior, led the Falcons (9-7, 4-1) with 22 points, five rebounds and three blocks. He was 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in overtime.

Garrett Horner added 13 points and Jacob Schauer scored 12 for Wheaton North. Senior guard Matthew Brend scored seven and did a terrific job making McDonald work for every basket.

“Sometimes the ball has to bounce your way to stay unbeaten,” McDonald said. “Our defense was not there tonight. We definitely have to sharpen that up. We are going to get everyone’s best shot at this point. We have to bring energy the whole game, not just the last four minutes. We will use this to learn.”

Geneva knocked off Fremd and St. Viator to win the Wheeling Holiday Tournament. The Vikings have also knocked off Wheaton-Warrenville South and St. Charles East this season.

“These nine seniors are tough kids, they want to win,” Hennig said. “Seniors win games. [Wheaton North] has a bunch of seniors too. They made plays, we made plays. We just had the ball last.”