DIXON — When asked about the offensive numbers put up this season by junior guard Linnea Popp, Geneva coach Sarah Meadows admitted that Popp may wish things had gone differently.
After hitting a game-winning shot Monday against Kaneland in the postseason opener for both teams, however, Popp was very pleased.
“I totally agree with Meadows,” she said. “I knew I had to step up. My free throws were falling, so that was good. I like the three. They weren’t falling for me, but that’s OK.
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“I just resorted to going inside.”
That’s exactly what she did for the winning shot in the Class 3A Dixon Regional semifinals.
Popp finished with 11 points, but none was bigger than her taking the inbounds pass, pump-faking a defender and calmly making an 8-footer with 1.8 seconds left to give the Vikings a 38-36 win.
Interestingly enough, the initial play Geneva (15-14) drew up for the the final seconds didn’t materialize, Popp made herself available for the pass, however, and the rest was history.
Keira McCann scored a game-high 18 points for the Vikings. Grace Brunscheen and Kyra Lilly came through with eight points apiece to lead a balanced attack for Kaneland (19-13).
Knowing that Popp hadn’t had the regular season she hoped for, Meadows was excited Popp sank the winning shot to start off the playoffs.
“I think offensively she would like for her season to be a little bit better, but that’s why I said it’s awesome for her to hit that shot and win it for us,” Meadows said. “I’m really happy for her.”
Despite being without starters Emma Peterson and Ella Wilkison, Geneva took a 34-22 lead late in the third quarter. The Vikings needed Popp to produce, though, when Kaneland roared back.
“I knew that shot was going to go down, too,” Meadows said. “She got herself set. She was under control. That was a big-time shot for her. I’m proud of her.”
On the final play, Popp just made sure to get open when the pass came to her.
“I saw I was open and I saw her closing in, and I pump-faked and went up with it,” Popp said. “I missed a three earlier, so I was excited about that. That was tough.”
Geneva took control early due to the hot shooting of McCann. She hit her first four 3-pointers. Three of them came in an 11-0 run in the first quarter that staked Geneva to a 13-4 lead. She also had three points in an 11-0 run in the third quarter that created a 31-21 lead.
The Knights didn’t panic, however.
“It’s funny because we knew it was going to be a grind-it-out game,” Kaneland coach Brian Claesson said. “It’s one of those where we wanted to keep it close and we finally tied it.
“Our girls didn’t even flinch. At the quarter we were down 10. The look in their eyes was like, ‘We’ve still got this.’”
Kaneland tied it on a driving layup by Amani Meeks with 1:38 left, but ultimately Popp ended it.
Peterson, one of Geneva’s top players, will be back for Thursday’s regional championship game against host Dixon after returning from a club volleyball tournament.
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The Vikings are looking for their first regional title in two seasons. Last winter’s rare miss snapped a 15-year streak of regional titles.
“It’s time to bring a regional plaque back home because we missed it last year,” Meadows said. “I know Keira is itching for it. Hopefully, we can make that happen.”
That works for Popp, too.
“I love wearing a Geneva jersey,” she said. “You always have a target on your back. I’m fine with that.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.