Santos' numbers rocket up in 2nd year at Geneva
"This isn't the NBA!"
That observation came from the crowd during Geneva's 52-31 victory over St. Charles North Thursday in the Class 4A St. Charles East regional championship game.
It came when Geneva junior Ashley Santos was about to go coast-to-coast, grabbing a rebound on one end and taking it in for a finger-roll layup on the other.
Only problem was that Santos took an extra step on her incredibly athletic soar to the hoop, hence the comment from the crowd.
"I know I definitely traveled," Santos said after scoring a game-high 13 points. "I tripped up. Just one of those things that comes how you are playing."
The fan's comment might not have been meant as a compliment, but being compared to an NBA player doesn't happen often in high school girls basketball and speaks to the things Santos can do on the court few other players can.
In addition to some highlight reel moves to the basket or her versatility being able to snare a rebound and run the fastbreak, Santos also shows her athleticism with seemingly at least emphatic block a game.
Santos said she looks forward to those plays as a chance not only to help her team but get the crowd going and put momentum on Geneva's side.
"It's definitely one of those energy changers as well," Santos said. "If the crowd gets into it then our team gets into it. It really gets us going at the same time."
After averaging 10.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game last season in her first year at Geneva, Santos has upped those numbers significantly to 15.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals a game this year plus 1.1 blocks while shooting 77 percent at the line and 47 percent from the field. The college offers have been rolling in from 30 schools all in major conferences. She's planning a trip to visit California and USC after the season.
Geneva coach Gina Nolan said she's been most impressed with Santos' work on the glass.
"I think she's a lot more comfortable in our system," Nolan said. "She plays with so much more confidence out there too, inside game, outside game. I think this year defensively, she is our leading rebounder even though plays the 3. She is so long, gets her hands on so many balls. She does a nice job for us tipping balls. She goes up with authority when she grabs rebounds. That's where I really see her making a real impact for us."
Geneva will need Santos, along with frontcourt teammates Katelyn Allen, Kelsey Pease and Brooke Binette, to battle Rockton Hononegah Tuesday.
Hononegah won its regional 71-68 over Rockford Auburn without 6-foot-4 Nicole Smith, the Wisconsin-bound post who is expected back after missing the past two games with an injured ankle.
"Six-4, I'm not afraid of any challenge and I'm sure my teammates will say the same thing," Santos said. "We're very aggressive, we'll trap, we'll board, it doesn't matter if you are 7-foot tall or 5-2 we'll go for those rebounds."
Without Smith, Boylan has turned even more to All-Stater Brea Edwards who has scored 28 and 29 points in the team's two regional wins.
Geneva got a good look last year at Edwards when she played for Rockford Boylan, the team Geneva beat in the sectional championship game at Huntley. Edwards scored 25 points in that game, a 62-48 Geneva win.
As good as Smith and Edwards are, Hononegah is more than a two-person team. Nolan also complimented Hononegah's outside shooting and said the Vikings will have to keep their 3-point shooters in check. One of them, Lindsay Carroll scored 17 points in Hononegah's regional championship win.