Geneva gets back on track

Geneva returned to the win column with a vengeance on Saturday.

After losing their first game of the season on Friday to Lake Park, the Vikings overwhelmed Glenbard North 74-45 in DuKane Conference action in Geneva.

Geneva dominated the first quarter scoring 12 points before allowing a Panther bucket and finished the first quarter with a 24-4 lead.

"I think in the first four minutes we really set the tone," said Geneva coach Scott Hennig. "I think it helped we hit some shots early and got some confidence. They started the game in a zone and we got some easy baskets. Heck in the first 10 seconds of the game, Kross (Garth) was laying it in. I thought we did that well. And you've got a kid like Mitch Mascari that can stretch your defense. Overall it was a good team game."

"They came out and played really well right away," North coach Joe Larson said. "I don't think we gave them much resistance there defensively for what they wanted to do and the game got away from us there."

"Obviously I don't think any of us were happy with yesterday. I think we wanted to come out and show that we are the team that we really are," said Geneva's Joshua Preston.

Preston made his presence known in the first quarter, blocking two shots and getting a steal.

"Yesterday, I didn't have the best of games and I just wanted to show my teammates that I have their back," Preston said.

"Preston did a lot things, rebounds and passing," Hennig said. "He's coming off an ankle injury so I thought he did some nice stuff."

Glenbard North junior forward Jordan McQuarter scored 11 of his team-high 16 points, including three 3-pointers, for a more evenly played second quarter with the Panthers (2-14, 0-7) scoring 16 points in the frame. But they still trailed 46-22 at the intermission.

The Vikings (16-1, 5-2) renewed their domination in the third quarter going on a 19-7 run, which ended with Mascari's last basket of the night. The senior guard led all scorers with 22 points.

With Geneva holding a 72-34 advantage to the start of the fourth quarter, Hennig rested his starters and gave all of his reserves playing time.

Jack McDonald scored 12 points for the Vikings and Garth notched 8.