Vikings maintain poise when it matters

Too close for comfort?

Or just what Geneva needed?

Both?

All season fans have been wondering how Geneva would respond in a close game. That answer came Monday, and it was just what Vikings fans hoped it would be.

With poise, with confidence and with another W.

Geneva's 66-57 win over sure didn't come easy. Elk Grove had a 3-pointer in the final minute that would have put it ahead. The Vikings, who had won every game but one this year by at least 10 points, never led by double figures.

Geneva coach Gina Nolan joked afterward she would need a gallon of water after this wild win. Nolan also got to see just what she wanted from her team in a pressure-packed situation.

In its first tight game all year, Geneva didn't get rattled in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over just once and making 3 of its 7 shots. The Vikings continually got the ball in the hands of their best players who either got good shots or got to the free-throw line.

"Everyone on our team is so pumped," senior Taylor Whitley said. "We've never had a close game before and that shows we can pull it off."

Geneva did struggle slightly at the line in the fourth quarter, going 9 of 16, but was solid before that with 12 of 14 in the first three quarters. They also were 6 of 9 in the final 2:32.

Kat Yelle, who stepped up offensively early when the Vikings got off to a rare slow start in the first quarter, said the key was to keep their heads up, even when things didn't come as easily as they had all year.

"We kept trying to keep our confidence up, try to keep everyone going," Yelle said. "Even when we had a bad shot, boosting people up, keep cheering them on. That was the key to our win."

Down 7-0 right off the bat, Geneva didn't flinch, instead tying the game in a mere 44 seconds. Yelle scored all 7 points, the first four coming on steals and passes from Whitley.

"We were so shocked," Yelle said. "It took us awhile to pick back up."

"They (Elk Grove) came out ready to play and we missed some shots early," Nolan said. "Some things threw the momentum their way right off the bat. I was impressed with the way we came back. Maybe it was a good test of adversity for us."

Elk Grove came into the game playing its best basketball of the year and certainly has a superstar in junior Ashley Capotosto. But Geneva is going to see teams this good and better the rest of the way. The Grenadiers finished 16-12 and weren't ranked in the Daily Herald's final Top 20, a poll that Geneva sits on top of.

Besides giving Geneva experience in a tight game, Monday's escape will be a reminder of how fast a dream four months of perfection can come to a sudden end in 32 minutes. As the competition and ballhandlers gets better, the Vikings might have to pull games out without so many fastbreak points off turnovers and instead by executing in their half-court offense - which they did in impressive fashion down the stretch Monday.

"Great atmosphere, the crowd was loud, that's what this time of year is all about," Nolan said. "It's about one win at a time. We've got some goals to keep going after."

jlemon@dailyherald.com