Turnowchyk emerges as outstanding scorer at Geneva

Alex Turnowchyk spent most of his junior year with the Geneva boys basketball team on the bench.

The 6-foot-2 guard waited patiently for his turn while Brian Hinchman, an all-area and all-Western Sun Conference selection was one of Geneva's leaders.

If Hinchman was in foul trouble or needed a break, that's when Turnowchyk would come in.

Hinchman, however, was one of 5 seniors who graduated, so Turnowchyk knew his time would come this year.

Boy, has it ever.

Turnowchyk is one of four Geneva starters averaging double-digits this year. He's really turned his game around this year, as he's jumped from averaging 2 points per game to 17.8 ppg, which is first on the Vikings and fourth in the Tri-Cities Area.

"We knew he had the ability to get down the floor, spot up and make shots, but at the same time, he worked extremely hard in the off-season to be more than just a stand-still shooter," Geneva coach Tim Pease said. "He can now take it to the basket and move without the ball better than he could a year ago."

Turnowchyk credited his work in the off-season for the improvement. That, and he knew he had to step up after several key players chose not to return this year.

"I knew this would be my chance to shine," he said. "I had no doubt we would be where we are now."

The Vikings are 11-5 overall and have dazzled fans with their running-style game and perhaps have left some of their opponents out of breath trying to catch up with them. They lead the area in offense, averaging 72 points a game.

A lot of that has to do with Turnowchyk. He's always been a shooter, but this year, he's getting it done all over the court, especially in 3-point land.

He leads the area in 3-pointers with 40 at 2.5 per game. He's shooting 50 percent from the field and is third in the area in free throws at 82 percent.

"He shoots a high percentage from the free-throw line, so we are always asking him to get to the basket and put himself in a position to get fouled," Pease said. "He's steadily improving in that area."

Turnowchyk began the season steady in double-digits, but really picked up his game in the win against rival Batavia, when he led all scorers with 26 points.

That was a career-night for him, but it didn't last long, as he tallied 35 points against Harlem and 33 against Rockford Guilford in DeKalb's Chuck Dayton tournament, where he earned all-tournament honors.

One of the reasons why Turnowchyk said he's able to score so much is because the entire team is really confident on everyone's ability to shoot and score.

"There's no pressure on me to score 20 a night," Turnowchyk said. "We have guys like Chris (Jordan), Jeremy (D'Amico) and Max (Cary) that can come out and score 20 points if I don't. It's nice to have no pressure and for guys to get me the ball if I get hot."

And if he gets hot behind the 3-point line, watch out. He's done it before and he'll do it again if you leave him open. DeKalb made that mistake earlier this season, as Turnowchyk scored 15 of his 17 points in the third quarter and finished with five 3-pointers in Geneva's 79-56 win at home.

"I always thought he was a great shooter, even last year," Jordan said. "(When shooting 3-pointers), I'm pretty confident (in him making them). I'll start running down the court and think, 'Oh, that's in."

"Alex has always been a shooter with a tremendous amount of confidence, and he's deserving to feel that way," Pease added. "I don't think I've had anyone (on the team this year) who has taken more shots in the off-season than he has. He committed himself to being a better player."

Turnowchyk would like to continue to play basketball after high school, perhaps in California, where he is originally from (he moved to Geneva his sophomore year from Irvine in Orange County).

But for now, there's still half a high school season left, which Pease thinks is only going to get better.

"It's a wonderful success story for him, but obviously, we aren't going to settle for this," Pease said. "We've played 16 games, we've got a lot more games to go. I'm happy with what he's done, but at the same time, we both know there is more work to do."