Article updated: 2/14/2013 11:47 PM

Geneva pulls away from St. Charles East

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St. Charles East's Amanda Hilton puts up a shot over Geneva's Sami Pawlak during Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Geneva coach Sarah Meadows holds her niece Tess Kissack, 2, while her teams dumps cups of water on her following their win.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Geneva's Madeline Dunn scores as the third quarter ends against St. Charles East during Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Geneva's Sami Pawlak (31) and her teammates leap off the bench as the final second ticks off the clock at Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

St. Charles East's Katie Claussner scores against Geneva during Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

St. Charles East's Kyra Washington is called for a foul against Geneva's Madeline Dunn during Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

St. Charles East's Carly Pottle scores over Geneva's Sami Pawlak during Thursday's regional championship game in St. Charles.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Geneva's Sami Pawlak scores over St. Charles East's Laney Deckrow.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

About this Article

Geneva and St. Charles East’s girls basketball teams ended up playing 12 of the most entertaining quarters of basketball you could ask for this season, two teams with contrasting styles that could not possibly have been more evenly matched. When Amanda Hilton scored on a floater with a second left in the first half of Thursday’s Class 4A St. Charles East regional championship game, the Saints took a 29-28 lead to halftime and the cumulative score of the teams’ three games stood at St. Charles East 179, Geneva 178. The final two quarters, however, the Vikings proved in emphatic fashion why they still set the standard of excellence for area girls basketball. Geneva turned up its defensive pressure, used its athleticism and height to frustrate the Saints’ top scorers, and outscored St. Charles East 35-10 in the second half to win a fifth straight regional championship, 63-39.