Rivalry night memorable for all involved - especially Saints, Vikings

I like to call it "March Madness" in December.

Last weekend was rivalry weekend for 4 local boys and girls basketball teams, as Batavia played host to neighboring Geneva while St. Charles North visited cross-town foe St. Charles East on Saturday.

While the Illinois High School Association postseason tournament includes the "win-or-go home" aspect, I don't think anything short of a sectional championship appearance or trip to the super-sectionals can match the emotional side of a true rivalry.

Last weekend was for bragging rights - at least for another month or so.

Last weekend was the time for students to paint their faces, wear fake glasses, design special T-shirts and stage multicolored themes while cheering on their favorite schools.

Whether it was the crimson colors of Batavia or the royal blue hues of Geneva - the blue and black shades of St. Charles North or the orange and black colors of St. Charles East - last Saturday offered the chance for area students to have some good, clean fun on a weekend night.

If you don't feel that crowd noise or the pressures of playing well against their longtime rivals - and in some cases, friends - affects 16-, 17- and 18-year-old players, think again.

Moreover, don't believe for a minute that the coaches want to win these rivalry games any less than the players, student sections or group of parents watching and shouting from the stands.

"I don't care how often or when we play them," said St. Charles East coach Patrick Woods, whose team earned its second win in 8 days against St. Charles North last Saturday. "I just know that with the rivalry you never know what to expect."

Saints senior guard Cole Gentry continued to be a thorn in the side of the North Stars, as the electrifying ballhandler showed that he also has plenty of outside shooting range.

Gentry, who weaved his way around defenders and drove to the basket during a 24-point performance in the Saints' 70-49 victory over St. Charles North on Nov. 29, canned four 3-pointers in his team's 72-62 triumph last Saturday.

"(St. Charles) East is very good," admitted North Stars coach Tom Poulin. "They know what they're doing. They know where to be. They're physical defensively and make it difficult for you to execute."

Coupled with last Friday's road win at Larkin, St. Charles East (5-1, 2-0) is off to an impressive start this season.

St. Charles North (2-4, 0-1), meanwhile, is still trying to put together a consistent 4-quarter effort, evidenced during its 71-57 loss to St. Patrick at the Ridgewood Shootout.

The North Stars jumped out to a 10-point halftime lead but was outscored 45-21 in the second half. Less than 24 hours earlier, they allowed the Saints to put 45 points on the board during the middle 2 quarters.

A loss to a rival might feel like 2 or 3 losses for some but it still counts as 1 loss.

"We know that this is part of the process," said Poulin. "If anyone thinks the process ends in December, they're sadly mistaken. We're a good basketball team and we're going to be a good basketball team when it is all said and done."

North Stars girls basketball coach Sean Masoncup echoed similar thoughts following his team's 56-52 loss to St. Charles East in Saturday's girls-boys doubleheader opener.

"If we learn from it, I'll be happy," said Masoncup after watching his team let a 12-point second-half lead evaporate. "It's December - it's not the end of the world.

"I'm glad these (mistakes) are coming now because I'd rather have time to fix them."

One of the best parts of the girls-boys doubleheader is that it allows the girls to showcase their talents in front of a larger-than-average crowd.

"It's just a great atmosphere to be in - it's so much fun," said Saints senior guard Katie Claussner, who made 6 straight free throws over the final 1:48 against St. Charles North.

"I have a lot of girls who are my friends on that team," added Claussner. "I played with (St. Charles North's) Nichole Davidson in AAU for at least three or four years - same thing with Sam Novak and Ashling Davern.

"We all know each other. They know exactly what I can do. I kept hearing them say, 'push her right, push her right. I think that's what makes these games so much better."

It was a same bed, different pillow scenario in Batavia last Saturday.

"I love playing in these games," Geneva senior forward Nate Navigato said to moments after the Vikings' 58-40 victory.

The noise level in the Bulldogs' gym ratcheted up a few notches when the home team rallied from a 14-point deficit to pull within 4 at 27-23 on a halftime buzzer-beating shot by Chasen Peez.

A few moments later, junior guard Canaan Coffey made a pair of technical foul free throws and buried a 3-pointer as the Bulldogs cut the Vikings' lead to 31-28.

"We let the environment, we let their pressure they gave us rattle us a little bit," said Geneva coach Phil Ralston. "It's almost like we forgot how to pass and catch and play."

Such is the beauty - or sometimes unattractiveness - of rivalry games.

Navigato, a veteran of the Geneva-Batavia rivalry, finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals as the Vikings (5-0, 1-0) eventually pulled away down the stretch.

A few hours earlier, freshman guard Margaret Whitley earned her rivalry initiation with a 20-point performance during Geneva's hard-fought 56-46 victory over the Bulldogs (4-4, 2-1).

"It was awesome," said Whitley, who can always rely on older sisters Caty and Taylor for rivalry wisdom. "I had so much fun being able to play in front of this crowd."

Geneva (6-0, 2-0) girls basketball coach Sarah Meadows almost sounded a bit relieved after the contest.

"It's a good win for us because it's hard to play here (at Batavia)," said Meadows. "Very loud."

That is exactly the way it is supposed to be.

If you missed Round 1 of the girls-boys rivalry weekend, you still have a chance for redemption.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, St. Charles East will visit St. Charles North (girls at 4:30 p.m.; boys at 6 p.m.).

On Thursday, Jan. 22, Batavia will visit Geneva (girls at 5:45 p.m.; boys at 7:15 p.m.).

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com