As far as Geneva sophomore guard Briana Borkowicz was concerned, it was just another ordinary shot.
But in a sectional semifinal between rivals separated by less than five miles, nothing is ordinary.
Borkowicz’s 3-pointer, her only basket of the game, with 7 seconds remaining against Batavia capped a 7-2 run in the final 2 minutes, 43 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. The No. 15 Vikings went on to scrape out a 48-44 win Monday in the Class 4A Schaumburg Sectional semifinals. Geneva will face No. 5 Montini on Thursday for the sectional title.
“I just wasn’t thinking, I just shot,” Borkowicz said. “I was actually the second option in the play. And when I saw it was there, I took it.”
“It was an amazing shot, I was so happy,” said 6-foot-2 junior Grace Loberg, who had 14 points and 18 rebounds despite sitting out most of the third quarter with foul trouble. “We couldn’t give up hope because last time they got us on a buzzer-beater. We all had a sense of urgency in those last few minutes. It was all about win-or-go-home. And we did not want to go home, especially against Batavia.”
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No. 10 Batavia (26-6) seemed to have all the momentum late in regulation, leading 37-32 with 2:51 left and Loberg playing with four fouls. Hannah Frazier hit the front end of a double-bonus with 31 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 39-36 lead before Borkowicz drained the game-tying shot from the right side of the floor.
In overtime, the Vikings (25-4) fed Loberg inside for two quick baskets, and Margaret Whitley (17 points) added a 3 to put Geneva in control.
Phil English is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Briana Borkowicz, Geneva, game-tying 3-pointer in regulation.
Key performers: Geneva — Grace Loberg, 14 points, 18 rebounds; Margaret Whitley, 17 points. Batavia — Hannah Frazier, 16 points.