Prep Sports

Lady Vikes sent to playoffs with plenty of spirit

Posted March 04, 2009 10:00 pm

Susan Sarkauskas

Geneva High School girls basketball coach Gina Nolan smiles as she gets on the bus as the team gets a sen-doff while leaving the school Thursday morning for the state finals at Illinois State University. Rick West | Staff Photographer

Charlie Duber made sure the Geneva High School girls basketball team left for the state championship Thursday with a proper send-off.

After the girls had boarded the bus at the school, he stood on its steps and exhorted the crowd to sing the Geneva fight song, wrapping it up with the cheer, "Shout it out: Fight! Fight! Fight! Shout it out: Fight! Fight! Fight! Shout it out: Fight!"

"It's always good to have a state playoff (team) in Geneva!" said Duber, a junior who played on Geneva's football team last fall that made it to the championship game.

The girls, undefeated this season, play in the Class 4A quarterfinals at 8:15 p.m. Friday against Chicago's Whitney Young High School at Redbird Arena in Normal. If they win, they'll play in the championship Saturday night.

They are the first Geneva team since 1963 to make it to the quarterfinals of the basketball championship, and only the third in Geneva history.

Parents and students gathered to bid them adieu, including player Kat Yelle's dog Jefferson, wearing a Geneva basketball jersey.

Peter Dudman said his daughter, Sam, and the other girls thrive on the pressure.

"They live for those moments," he said.

Forward Jeannie Cummings, a senior, said, "It's so surreal. We always talked about going to state." She said the girls have been a little unfocused this week, but would settle down while watching a video of "Love and Basketball" on the bus ride.

Said Paige Wassel, a junior guard: "We just want to start playing."

Win or lose, the team will be honored at an assembly Monday morning, along with the school's dance team, which is competing in the state tournament this weekend. The time for the assembly has not been set yet, but will be announced through the school district's e-mail notification system.

Senior Taylor Whitley gets a care package from a team mom before boarding the bus as the Geneva High School girls basketball team gets a send-off before heading to the state finals in Normal. The bags were filled with fruit, candy, magazines and other treats, plus notes of encouragement. Rick West | Staff Photographer

The Geneva High School Varsity Girls' Basketball Team took a minute to pose Thursday, March 5, before boarding a bus to head downstate for the IHSA Class 4A Girls State. Courtesy Kelley Munch | Dist. 304

School nurses Susan Odenthal, left, Cindy Blayney and Roxanne Sronkoski cheer as the bus pulls away during a send-off for the Geneva High School girls basketball team as they leave the school Thursday, heading for the state finals in Normal. Rick West | Staff Photographer

Player Lauren Wicinski smiles after looking at a picture of her taken by Cindy Blayney before the Geneva High School girls basketball teams leaves the school Thursday for the state finals in Normal. Rick West | Staff Photographer

Geneva High School varsity basketball players sign a ball before the team boards a bus Thursday, bound for the state finals in Normal. The ball will later be auctioned off to benefit the Geneva Academic Foundation. Rick West | Staff Photographer

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.