Geneva gets defensive in downing West Chicago

In marching to an undefeated regular season last year and remaining unscathed this season, the Geneva girls basketball team has built a reputation for quick hands and feet in a swarming, trapping full-court press defense.

But Geneva employed those traits in the half-court sets Saturday afternoon to create 22 turnovers and hold off a quality West Chicago team for a 45-37 nonconference victory.

Ashley Santos (13 points, 6 rebounds) aided the victory by swishing two 3-point shots early in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game and boost host Geneva to a 9-0 mark for the season.

"It was very explosive for us," Santos said of her 3-point bombs that vaulted Geneva to a 37-29 lead. "After that, we got it together and kept our composure."

With Santos loosening up the West Chicago defense, Geneva's Lauren Wicinski (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Myra Yelle added the finishing touches.

Yelle, performing a role usually seen by her younger sister Kat, hit a midrange jump shot for a 39-31 lead, then stole the ball at the other end. On the ensuing possession, Wicinski slid inside for an offensive rebound and swept across the lane for a hook shot and a 10-point lead.

"I don't know where that (hook) shot came from," Wicinski said. "It was a very scrappy game and we're going to have to work more on playing against that kind of zone."

While her team's zone defense kept it in the game and forced 19 Geneva turnovers, West Chicago coach Kim Wallner knew her team also had its hands full with Geneva's man-to-man defense.

"We weren't quite poised in executing our half-court offense," Wallner said. "I thought we handled their full-court pressure well, and I knew that their full-court press could be devastating, but it was in our half-court offense that we had trouble."

Wallner also felt that Santos' two outside shots were a key because they allowed Geneva to force West Chicago to expand its 3-2 zone, which had given the Vikings trouble in the first half.

Geneva was able to forge a 20-19 halftime lead, despite hitting only 7 of 26 shots and committing 11 turnovers. But West Chicago (6-3) had 14 turnovers and shot only slightly better at 8-of-22.

"We shot poorly in the first half and talked about it at halftime, and finally relaxed and hit some threes," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "They did a nice job of shutting us down for awhile, but we were finally able to get the ball inside to Lauren and she did a nice job.

"West Chicago is a good team," Nolan added. "They lead the DuPage Valley and have beaten some good teams."

Kat Yelle tied Wicinski for game-high honors with 14 points, scoring 10 of those in the first half when the Vikings were struggling.

West Chicago got a big spark from sophomore guard Allie Tapanes, who scored all of her 10 points in the second half. Jessica Baids chipped in with 10 points for the Wildcats.