Defending state champ Geneva snags regional crown
Even when the outside shots aren't falling and the transition points are hard to come by, Geneva's girls basketball team finds a way to win.
The Vikings (26-3) attacked the interior and crashed the boards effectively during their 59-46 Class 4A Schaumburg regional championship victory over Batavia (18-12) Thursday night in Hoffman Estates.
With the win, the top-seeded Vikings advance to Tuesday's 6 p.m. Lake Park sectional semifinal clash against 4th-seeded Wheaton North, which defeated Elk Grove 50-39 Thursday night.
"We found the mismatch - we knew they were going to be there tonight," said Vikings coach Sarah Meadows, whose team claimed its seventh consecutive regional crown (10th straight overall) in her 7 seasons at the helm.
Geneva finished the first quarter on a 10-3 run, capped by Madison Mallory's layup off an over-the-top feed from Stephanie Hart (5 points, 4 assists), to make it 17-9.
The first 3 baskets of the second quarter for the Vikings, who outrebounded Batavia 20-7 in the first half, came off second-chance opportunities.
After Batavia trimmed its deficit to 21-13 on Erin Golden's baseline jumper midway through the second quarter, Geneva went on one of its patented runs - this time an 11-0 surge ignited by sophomore Lindsay Blackmore (10 points, 4 rebounds).
"When a team takes away one option, we have to have another," said senior guard Margaret Whitley, who finished with 11 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. "We understand that we can't just win one way. It's reassuring knowing that we have multiple ways to beat a team if we execute."
A 3-point basket by junior guard Hailey Orman (14 points) pulled the 8th-seeded Bulldogs within 17 at 38-21 with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
The Vikings then put it out of reach with a 9-0 surge that included baskets from Hart and Whitley and an acrobatic 3-point play by Maddy Yelle, who turned in a superb all-around effort.
"I knew I had to be aggressive today," said Yelle, who scored 7 of her team-leading 15 points in the third quarter as Geneva built a 49-28 advantage. The 5-foot-9 senior guard added 7 rebounds and 4 steals.
"We say to Maddy all the time that she can beat anybody off the dribble," said Meadows. "I thought she realized that tonight and did a nice job finishing at the basket.
"She is a sick athlete," the coach added in an endearing way. "She knows it because I tell her that all the time. She's a real fun basketball player to watch."
Mallory had 10 points and 7 rebounds while Brie Borkowicz added 8 points.
"We don't wait for one kid to carry us," said Meadows.
Golden led the Bulldogs with 19 points.
"I'm displeased with the outcome but I'm not displeased with any of our girls or our effort," said Batavia coach Kevin Jensen, whose team doubled its win total from last season.
"The girls did an outstanding job. They played a real good team tonight."