Geneseo nips Kendall in overtime

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 December 2017 at 9:56 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Hunter Menze puts up a shot as Jake Hamilton defends for Geneseo during the Eagles overtime loss to the Blue Devils this evening in the Holley Tournament.

A late comeback bid fell just short as Kendall dropped a narrow 56-53 overtime decision to Geneseo this evening in the consolation game of the Holley Tournament.

Trailing by 13, 47-34, early in the final period Kendall put together a key 10-0 run to get right back in the game. A three and a layup by Mickey Gardner and a layup off a turnover by Nate Warters highlighted that spurt which pulled the Eagles to within three, 47-44, with 4:50 remaining.

Nate Warters scores on a layup for Kendall with four seconds to go to send the contest into overtime.

Geneseo did go back up by six, 52-46, at Daniel Kaye hit a three but Kendall again came battling back.

This time the Eagles got three layups by Warters, the last coming with just four seconds remaining, to knot the contest at 52-52 and force overtime.

However, Kendall could not keep the momentum as the Blue Devils outpointed the Eagles 4-1 in the four minute overtime to claim the victory as Jake Hamilton had the winning basket.

Hamilton scored 20 and Kaye, who was named to the All-Tournament team, added 12 to lead Geneseo.

Warters scored 18, John Rath 15 and Gardner and Hunter Menze 10 each for Kendall. Menze was named to the All-Tournament team.

Geneseo held leads of 14-12 after one period, 31-25 at the half and 43-34 at the three-quarter mark. Rath scored 9 and Warters and Menze 8 each in the first half to keep the Eagles close.

Kendall though used a big 18-9 fourth period surge, including 10 by Warters and 6 by Gardner, to rally into a tie and send the contest into overtime.