Leafs survive for win over Sterling

A defensive stand by the Geneseo High School boys’ basketball team in the third quarter helped propel the Leafs to a 35-30 win over NCIC  foe Sterling Jan. 26.

It was a low scoring first half of action Tuesday night as neither team broke 20 points before the break.

Geneseo took the one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 9-8, but Sterling came back to knock down 11 points in the second and held Geneseo to eight to take the 19-17 advantage at the half.

Only 10 points were scored in the entire third quarter with the Leafs scoring nine, while the Geneseo defense managed to hold Sterling to only one point. The Leafs grabbed a 26-20 lead as the game entered the fourth quarter.

The Leafs and Golden?Warriors battled through the fourth quarter as Sterling outscored Geneseo by one, 10-9, but the Leafs were able to hang on for the five-point victory.

Leading the Geneseo offense was Michael Ashpole with nine points on four shots from the field and a free throw.

Blake Croegaert chipped in seven points with a three pointer and went 4-for-4 from the foul line, while Devan?DePauw finished with six as he drained two shots from beyond the arc.

Sam Hamer and Andrew Denney added four points apiece, both with two field goals, while Jared Kuban scored three on a field goal and a free throw and Jonathan Staab ended the night with two points on a field goal.

The Leafs (9-7 overall and 4-2 in the NCIC) will host Morris tonight at 7:30 p.m., followed by a road contest with Galesburg at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30.