Fast starts, slow starts... and everything in-between

With two weeks remaining before ringing in 2009 (doesn't it seem like Y2K was just a couple years ago?) it's time to look at some interesting developments from the first month of the high school basketball season.

There are still some unbeaten teams left - Batavia's girls (7-0), Geneva's girls (10-0) and Aurora Central boys (8-0); teams still searching for their first victory - St. Charles East's boys (0-8); and teams hovering at the .500 mark - Marmion (4-4).

There are other teams off to fast starts - St. Charles East's girls (6-2), St. Charles North's girls (7-2), Batavia's boys (5-1), Geneva's boys (7-1) and Rosary (10-3).

There are teams that are probably better than their records indicate - St. Charles North's boys (3-4), Kaneland's boys (2-3), Marmion and West Aurora's boys (4-3). There are teams still trying to find themselves - Kaneland's girls (1-7), West Aurora's girls (1-7) and St. Charles East's boys.

And there's a team - Aurora Central Catholic's girls (4-6) - that has already quadrupled its victory total from a year ago (1-25).

Let's take a closer look at the unbeaten teams.

Aurora Central Catholic: Why have the Chargers won their first eight games? Defense, defense and more defense.

"As long as we shut teams down defensively, I know we're going to win," ACC coach Nate Drye said after a 68-34 win over St. Edward.

Using a suffocating zone defense, the Chargers held their first seven opponents to a 40-point average before last weekend's 75-61 victory over Marian Central Catholic.

Led by seniors Mike Adams and Anthony Kelley, ACC faces a stiff challenge this weekend - back-to-back games against Driscoll and Marmion.

The last ACC-Marmion meeting (Feb. 8) was decided by Mark Adams' catch-and-shoot 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Chargers a 52-49 victory.

Batavia: For the second consecutive season, coach Tim DeBruycker's Bulldogs entered the Oswego tournament without a loss.

While improving their offense, the Bulldogs have overpowered opponents evidenced by their 29-point average margin of victory.

Seniors Kara Lydon, Melissa Norville and Natalie Tarter have made some believers.

"They just have so many weapons," Glenbard South coach Julie Fonda said after a recent 59-50 loss to Batavia.

The defending Western Sun Conference champs will begin the 2009 portion of their schedule with a key matchup Jan. 3 at archrival Geneva.

Geneva: One word accurately sums up the Vikings' fast start - impressive.

In its season opener, Geneva rolled to a 75-15 victory over Lakes. Since then, the Vikings have hit the 80-point plateau three times, including an 85-53 victory over Rosary in the championship game of their Thanksgiving tournament.

As expected, Indiana State-bound senior guard Taylor Whitley has led the way, pouring in 35 points against Rosary. She has gotten plenty of help from teammates Lauren Wicinski, Emily Hinchman and Kat Yelle, among others. If teams want to compete with the Vikings, they better be able to handle pressure and slow down the tempo.

Here's a few additional observations:

• I'm still getting used to watching Batavia play without 4-year standout Nick Fruendt (now at Northwestern).

• He's not the kind of guy who toots his own horn but Bulldogs coach Jim Roberts is deserving of a high five after recording victory number 400 against St. Francis at the annual Ken Peddy Windmill City Classic. I'm sure Roberts was more excited about his team capturing its eighth straight tournament title than the career milestone.

• Geneva's Jeremy D'Amico can get to the free-throw line. The 6-5 senior guard/forward attempted 26 foul shots (making 17) during the Vikings' 58-48 overtime win over Glenbard South Dec. 5.

* Under the direction of first-year Geneva coach Phil Ralston, the Vikings have been more deliberate with the basketball this season. It should make for an interesting contrast in styles when Geneva faces Sycamore, which erupted for 99 points last weekend against Rochelle.

• When all-state running back Michael Ratay regains his basketball legs after a punishing football season, will he return to form after sitting out his junior campaign?

• Close calls aren't good enough for St. Charles North boys despite a rugged schedule that has included games with East Aurora, Downers Grove South, Proviso East, Proviso West, Upstate Eight favorite Neuqua Valley and Rockford Jefferson.

"Everyone says we're 3-4 but we've played a great schedule," said senior guard Nick Neari. "We think we should be 7-0 right now.

"We need to put together some wins but before we put together some wins, we've got to put together four quarters."

• A year ago, St. Charles East's girls got off to a slow 1-4 start before finishing at 15-14, 7-3 in UEC play. Thanks to juniors Lexi Baltes, Jaime Rust and Steph Roan, the Saints bring a 6-2 record into Friday's game at Streamwood. It is still more than month away, Jan. 24 at St. Charles North, but the annual cross-town showdown between St. Charles East and St. Charles North could carry extra significance in deciding who wins the UEC title.

• While St. Charles North's Kelsey Smith remains the area's top post player for the third consecutive year, the best boys' big men are Kaneland's Dave Dudzinski and St. Charles East's Kevin Senechalle.

Dudzinski, a 6-9 junior, scored nearly half of his team's points (20) in a recent 56-47 loss to Glenbard South, while the 6-7 senior Senechalle earned unanimous all-tournament honors after recording four consecutive double-doubles over Thanksgiving weekend.

• Nobody has played a tougher schedule than St. Charles East, which has faced Proviso East, Prospect, St. Joseph, East Aurora (twice), Neuqua Valley and Oak Park-River Forest.

• Wake up and smell the coffee - and play some basketball, too. Geneva will sacrifice a home game for an 8:45 a.m. New Year's Eve contest against Kaneland at the United Center. The Western Sun showdown will serve as a prelude to the Bulls' 1 p.m. clash with Orlando.

It's a great idea... and a great way to close out 2008.

csb4k@hotmail.com