DeKalb boys hoops finish tourney on high note

The start of the third quarter began in the same fashion with DeKalb (3-11) pushing the lead to 40-21 with three and a half minutes remaining in the quarter.

However, the Maple Leafs battled back in the final frame with a 25-point quarter on hot perimeter shooting and wiggling through the DeKalb trees for uncontested layups. Geneseo clawed within three points, but free throw shooting from senior center Andre Harris and a timely layup from senior forward Jake Carpenter helped the Barbs weather the Leafs’ storm for the 60-55 victory in the the fifth-place game.

“In the fourth quarter we kind of got selfish,” said Harris, a Chuck Dayton second-team selection. “We had the lead and we were trying to score. We should have waited for them to come out [on the perimeter] and guard us. We just needed to keep our composure, just play as a team and know that we had the lead.”

The Barbs had a 45-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter when Geneseo picked up the defense with its full-court pressure.

The Leafs created turnovers and translated them into groves of baskets.

Geneseo’s senior guard Jordan Starkey scored 11 of the Leafs’ points in the quarter.

With the Barbs clinging to a 55-49 lead, Geneseo started fouling with 54.9 seconds remaining.

Carpenter started the free-throw shooting for the Barbs by hitting one of two.

Geneseo then hacked Harris four times in the last 40.6 seconds of play.

Harris went 5 of 8 to close out the win.

“As well as we played in the first half, especially in the second quarter, we didn’t play very well, we didn’t play together in the fourth quarter until the end, until maybe the last minute or so,” Barbs coach Dave Rohlman said. “I thought we were trying to give it away there for a while, but I think that comes with experience.