Geneva shows Boylan what Viking basketball is all about

Take the videotape from Geneva's 62-48 win over Rockford Boylan Thursday night in the Class 4A Huntley sectional championship, make some copies, and pass it out when people want to know what Geneva girls basketball is all about.

Vintage Vikings. Up-tempo. Unselfish. Lauren Wicinski dominating down low. Kat Yelle weaving through the opponent's defense. All the role players doing what it takes to win.

Geneva did all that and then some, just as Yelle said the Vikings would after Monday's 48-41 win over Cary-Grove when nobody seemed pleased with the way the team played.

"That's what we have been waiting for," Yelle said. "It was different tonight, the atmosphere was different. We were all ready to play. In the lockeroom no one showed they were nervous. We had it in our hearts we wanted it more than anything."

Wicinski now has a 19-point, 18-rebound game to go with her earlier 21-point, 21-rebound line against South Elgin. She echoed Yelle's viewpoint.

"We never let them come back once we were ahead like we have the last couple games," Wicinski said. "That was really good for us. I just felt we played more our game this time."

After finding itself in tense fourth quarters in its last two playoff games, Geneva went back to looking like Geneva Thursday. The Vikings took a 5-point lead in the first 30 seconds and never let Boylan get back in the game - despite an all-state effort by Titans star Brea Edwards.

"It was nice to jump out to an early lead and keep it," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "The kids did a great job of attacking. And we hit some big shots when we needed and played with a big lead."

Of course one key to maintaining the early lead was keeping its stars on the court and out of foul trouble. That made a huge difference compared to wins over St. Charles North and Cary-Grove.

Boylan had several skilled players capable of putting a team in foul trouble. The Vikings were ready, having emphasized in practice to keep their hands straight up and avoid any bad fouls.

"We talked a lot about (Boylan's Devin) Mack and (Suzie) Broski move so well underneath we talked a lot about keeping your ground, not leaving your feet because as soon as you do that they are going to spin and go right around you," Nolan said.

"We had a good day of practice yesterday and our big thing today was playing our game and not necassiarly doing things we are not used to doing," guard Sammy Scofield said. "Running our offense, running our defense and just being ourselves. I think that showed out on the floor."

Nolan continues to push all the right buttons. Whether it was getting 3-point specialist Katelyn Allen in against Boylan's zone, how she has managed foul trouble for Wicinski and Yelle, the way her team stays composed and executes in pressure-packed situations, how prepared Geneva is scouting opponents, or just the fundentmally sound basketball you see game after game, she's got Geneva one win away from a return trip to state.

Hersey and hot-shooting Megan Rogowski certainly will be a stiff challenge Monday. But a Vikings win and back-to-back state teams would be a phenomenal accomplishment and a credit to so many in the Geneva program. Even with three starters back and a talented transfer, Geneva still had to replace the best player in its history Taylor Whitley plus another All-Area standout Emily Hinchman.

And to do so without losing a game? From the way Wicinski has elevated her game to Yelle's poise and leadership to Nolan's steady hand, this group deserves a standing ovation - and something tells me they will hear a quite few Monday night at Streamwood.

jlemon@dailyherald.com