ROCHELLE — Junior Kendyl Darby went to work on the block Saturday, when the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity basketball team battled Genoa-Kingston seeking its second straight victory.

Using her superior size against a smaller opposing frontcourt, Darby found good post position and became Rochelle’s go-to offensive option in the fourth quarter, where the junior forward put home a trio of low-post shots for six of her team-high 16 points on Saturday. With the Lady Hubs running successful inside-out offense while playing stifling defense, Rochelle dominated the second half, where the Lady Hubs outscored Genoa-Kingston 32-15 to secure a 53-38 win.

“We started really strong this season, but we’ve been through a rough patch so it feels good to be on a winning streak again,” Darby said. “It was great that my teammates were able to get me the ball down low because I know I’m able to score… I love all of these girls. They’re like my sisters and I love spending time with them. I think there are so many things we can accomplish.”

Rochelle found success down low during the first half, where junior forward Abby Metzger drew multiple Genoa-Kingston fouls and made several trips to the free-throw line, converting five free throws to keep the Lady Hubs in the mix. Sophomore Jaydin Dickey drilled Rochelle’s first triple of the game, sinking a 3-pointer during the first quarter. Despite those efforts, Genoa-Kingston held a 12-6 lead after the first quarter, as the Lady Hubs failed to convert quality shots early.

With her team trailing, Darby began to heat up in the second quarter, scoring a low-post basket and nailing a 3-pointer from the elbow. Senior Alivia Henkel also found her groove in the second quarter, drawing three fouls on aggressive drives to the hoop and sinking a trio of free throws along the way. Behind Darby and Henkel, Rochelle fought back and managed to bring the Cogs within two points at halftime, with Genoa-Kingston maintaining a 23-21 advantage. 

A huge momentum swing occurred early in the third quarter, where Dickey knocked down three consecutive mid-range shots near the baseline, fueling a lengthy Rochelle run that gave the Lady Hubs an eight-point lead and forced a Genoa-Kingston timeout. Senior Kara Martinez added to the growing energy in the gym, burying a deep 3-pointer that put Rochelle ahead by double digits. After trailing for most of the game, the Lady Hubs held a 40-35 lead after three.

“Coach [Gehm] wanted us to get our heads on straight,” Darby said when asked about the message at halftime. “We played amazing defense and I thought we came out of halftime wanting to win. We started hitting some shots and Jaydin went on a roll there for a minute. Making those shots brought us a lot of confidence and that’s when we started to roll.”

Rochelle’s newfound momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where the team’s 1-2-2 zone defense and three-quarter-court pressure flustered the Genoa-Kingston offense, which mustered only three points over the final eight minutes. As the Lady Hubs forced turnovers and closed out possessions with defensive rebounds, Darby grew Rochelle’s lead with three low-post baskets. Senior Sydney Tabor also cashed in a late 3-pointer to ice the win.

Henkel and Dickey each finished with 12 points for the Lady Hubs (5-9, 0-3 Interstate 8), who are off until the KSB Holiday Classic in Dixon, which will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Metzger and Martinez each totaled five points, while Tabor finished with three points in the victory.