Geneva to make first voyage downstate
It's time to see how that Sea of Blue looks in Red.
For the first time in school history, Geneva's girls basketball team is headed to state - the first time any Vikings basketball team is state-bound in 46 years.
The Vikings' defense suffocated New Trier early in the Class 4A Loyola University supersectional Monday night, building enough of a lead to overcome a shaky final three minutes and win 54-49.
Geneva (32-0) will play Young at 8:15 p.m. Friday in the Class 4A semifinals at Redbird Arena in Normal. Young won on a 3-pointer at the buzzer 78-76 in double overtime over Marian.
"We're so excited, we can't believe it," Geneva senior Taylor Whitley said. "Each game we're getting more excited. I never thought that it (state) would come. We've always wanted to and always said how awesome to get state and now to get here is so cool."
New Trier (30-5), like Lake Park in a 23-point loss in last week's sectional championship, never knew what hit them while falling behind 24-9 at halftime.
"We dug a 10-foot whole and only had a 9-foot ladder," New Trier coach Teri Rodgers said. "They are a great team, very quick, very aggressive. They put us on our heels a little bit. That was disappointing. We've played games that quick before. That second quarter cost us the game."
This year's undefeated girls teams join the Geneva boys teams from 1908 and 1963 as the only ones to get to state. Because that 1963 team lost to Carver in the quarterfinals, this Geneva girls team has now advanced farther than any other.
Pretty good, pretty exclusive, company.
"I almost can't believe it," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "I said when the fourth quarter started it would be the longest eight minutes of my life. They put a good fight at the end and got hot shooting but I credit our composure. At this point of year it doesn't matter how pretty it is at end, it just matters who wins."
Geneva certainly had the better turnout Monday than New Trier, the excitement and support for this undefeated basketball team apparently trumping New Trier's proximity to Loyola.
The Vikings had their fans on their feet early. The game was tied just once at 2, with Geneva opening up leads of 8 points after one quarter and 15 at halftime.
As it has all year, Geneva's defense set the tone. New Trier scored on its first two possessions, then only one of its last nine to end the first quarter. Emily Hinchman had 2 steals and Kat Yelle another as the Trevians turned the ball over 5 times in the final 5 minutes of the first quarter.
Geneva kept up the pressure in the second quarter. New Trier only had 1 field goal, a basket by Abbey Schmitt with 36 seconds to go in the half - ending a stretch of 13 minutes, 16 seconds Geneva held New Trier without a field goal.
At one point in the quarter, the Vikings held New Trier scoreless on 10 straight possessions. Sammy Scofield came off the bench and had 3 steals in that stretch.
Scofield also contributed a free throw and two baskets as Geneva outscored New Trier 10-3 in the second quarter.
"Sammy came off and did a nice job, Sam Dudman too," Nolan said. "They have been a spark for us all year."
Geneva led 38-25 after three quarters before a 24-point fourth quarter by New Trier, plus some missed free throws by the Vikings, let the Trevians get as close as 53-49.
By that point only 15 seconds remained. Whitley added a free throw, Hinchman grabbed the rebound on New Trier's last shot, and the celebration began.
"We put a lot of work into it," said Hinchman, who scored 14 points to tie Whitley for high scorer. Lauren Wicinski had 13 points and 9 rebounds.
"All the girls deserve it, they played great tonight. It's great for our program and all the girls who worked so hard this summer,"