Geneva's dream season one for the memory books
PEORIA - On Saturday afternoon in Peoria, less than 24 hours after a 38-36 last-second loss to Normal Community in the Class 4A state semifinals, Geneva coach Phil Ralston put the Vikings through their last practice of the season.
That was when the emotions started setting in for Ralston on what a special group he had, one that finished the season with a 30-5 record to match the school's record for wins while making their first state appearance in 52 years.
"It hit me square in the head this is the last time I get a chance to interact with these seniors," Ralston said. "It was a really good blended group of young men between the junior and senior classes. Kids who got along well and wanted to be around each other. For me for all the special moments on the court there were as many special moments off the court."
That was a sentiment shared from Geneva senior starters Nate Navigato, Pace Temple and Daniel Santacaterina.
"This was a great way to top off the last eight years with some of my best friends," Santacaterina said. "Playing with our brothers. It's been really fun. I don't have any regrets."
Ralston is 143-67 in his seven years coaching at Geneva. The Vikings went 21-7 in Ralston's first season, and in the past three years Geneva has steadily improved: 21-9, 25-6 and 30-5.
That three-year run coincides with the 6-foot-7 Navigato debuting in the lineup as a sophomore. Three years later he leaves as the school's all-time leading scorer on his way to Buffalo to play for Bobby Hurley in a program fresh off its first NCAA Tournament berth.
Navigato, named to the IHBCA first-team all-state team this weekend, was the only Geneva player able to consistently score at state. He had 19 points Friday and 15 Saturday, the lone Viking in double figures either game as they ended up taking fourth for their first state trophy.
"We've been playing with all these guys for the longest time I can remember. I grew up with these guys. We're all best friends, we grew up in Geneva watching basketball, playing basketball, playing other sports," Navigato said, pointing to football standouts Santacaterina and Temple sitting next to him.
"I love these two guys to death. It's not like they are just along for the ride. They give everything. I love everybody in that locker room, coaches, players, they are all awesome. I have zero regrets. This has been an incredible journey and I ask for nothing more."
Part of what made the season so special, Ralston said, was what the Vikings had to overcome.
Coming off huge postseason wins last year over Bolingbrook and West Aurora before losing to eventual state runner-up Benet in the sectional championship, optimism was high. But losing Temple to a knee injury in Geneva's last football game of the season certainly was a blow.
"At the beginning of the season Pace was out, Mike (Landi) didn't start the season, people could have written us off and things could have turned out very differently," Ralston said.
Temple returned to the lineup Jan. 10 and Geneva soared, losing just once until the state tournament. Bennett Fuzak and Loudon Vollbrecht, standing 6-foot-7 and 6-8, respectively, joined Navigato, Temple and Santacaterina in the tallest lineup anyone can remember, with Stephen Moyer, Landi, Sean Chambers and Chandler Fuzak providing solid play off the bench.
"You don't normally have seasons with young men that are this special," Ralston said. "These kids are not just all talented athletes they are just special young men. They are coachable. They always tried to do what you wanted them to do. We didn't have guys trying to fight us. There was buy-in to whatever we were asking them to do. It helped set the tone."
After tying St. Charles East for the Upstate Eight Conference River Division title, the Vikings began the postseason on their home court with wins over DeKalb and then a 73-70 thriller over the Saints to win their second straight regional title.
Every team Geneva played in the postseason had at least 22 wins.
The games were just as difficult in sectionals, first overcoming a 9-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Rockford Jefferson and then winning another heart-stopper over sectional favorite Rockford Auburn on Navigato's 3-point play in the final seconds.
If that wasn't enough drama, Geneva went to two overtimes and survived a 3-point buzzer-beater in the first overtime to beat Lake Park in the supersectional and punch their first trip to state since 1963.
"My favorite part was the struggle," Temple said. "Going against a lot of people saying you aren't going to get out of your regional, you aren't going to do this. I think we did a really great job of coming together as one and playing for something greater than ourselves, playing for the entire community of Geneva. That's something I never will forget. Fighting all the odds. If we are winning or losing I have all my brothers there and we are going to go out and put up a fight. The entire town of Geneva has been fantastic with their support and it has been a great advantage to have."
Geneva went down fighting at state despite losing to Normal Community and Bolingbrook. It's hard to find many sports programs around the state that have had the high level of success as Geneva in the past decade in the most high-profile sports, now with state appearances in football, boys basketball and twice in girls basketball.
Geneva just missed making it even more memorable with Friday's heartbreaking loss to Normal.
"I know it will sting today (Saturday) and last night's loss really stung and took the wind out of our sails but I give our kids tremendous amount of credit for the way they fought," Ralston said. "(Friday night) was such a close game. We had a lead late. You can play the what-if game but at the end of the day what an experience. We got to be at Carver Arena. I told the kids, take a few minutes just to soak it all in and go out and be competitive and our kids were very competitive.
"What a magical year this was."
jlemon@dailyherald.com