Geneva sprints, scores

The Geneva boys basketball team is one fun squad to watch -- just make sure to keep your eyes open or else you might miss a basket.

The Vikings lead the teams in the Tri-Cities Area in scoring, averaging around 70 points.

Four starters lead the team in double-digits -- Max Cary (17.8 points per game), Alex Turnowychyk (13.0 ppg), Jeremy D'Amico (12.3 ppg) and Chris Jordan (11.5 ppg).

"That's been one of our strong suits so far this young season, averaging 4 guys in double figures," Geneva coach Tim Pease said after the Vikings' 79-56 win against DeKalb, where all four players finished in double-digits. "I think that that's just our pace allowing us to do that."

"Fast" is the best word used to describe the pace the Vikings use, and you have to be in pretty good shape to maintain that.

"These boys have committed themselves to that pace and they are working very hard in practice to get that done," Pease said. "They are anxious to play."

"We knew we were going to be a running team," Jordan, a senior, added. "We were going to push the ball and have good offense. A lot of teams can't keep up with us."

Kaneland: The Knights knew coming into the season they were one of the youngest teams around with 3 sophomores in the starting lineup.

Steve Colombe, Dave Dudzinski and Ryley Bailey are all new to the varsity this year, but have held their own for the Knights.

The trio combined for 33 points in Kaneland's loss to Rochelle early last week. In the 53-52 overtime win against Yorkville, Dudzinski posted 19 points and was a huge factor in the win.

Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen knew his team would get some bumps and bruises early in the season, as the Knights are 3-4 overall.

"We are young, we are learning," Hansen said. "They are trying. We'll get better."

Only three players came back this year -- Nick Wagner, Nate Peters and Kevin Green. Already, Green has hit a bump in the road.

Nearly two weeks ago, the senior guard injured his shoulder against Glenbard South. Prior to his injury, Green was averaging around 18 points and was in the starting lineup.

He clocked in some time in last Tuesday's loss to Rochelle. He didn't start, but came in after one minute had passed. He finished with 7 points.

"He saw a lot more playing time than I wanted to give him," Hansen said. "Hopefully, he'll get back in the grind. He needs surgery, but hopefully, he'll be on hold for a while. If it goes out again, we'll probably have to shut him down."

Aurora Central Catholic: The Chargers remain perfect after a successful weekend against Suburban Catholic Conference teams St. Edward and Montini.

The Chargers' (8-0, 2-0) next challenge is Friday, when they take on three-time conference champ St. Francis on the road.

"That's a huge game for us," ACC coach Nate Drye said. "I mean, we are off to a decent start, but Francis has just beaten us senselessly for the past three years, so if we want to have any chance at competing for the conference title, we have to go to Wheaton and compete."

It was expected Mike and Mark Adams would dominate the Chargers this year, but the third element has been Nick Czaja.

The 6-foot-6 junior center leads ACC in scoring at 16.6 points per game. Against the Broncos, he led the team after a 19-point, 8 rebound effort and missed just 1 shot. He had 17 points in the 75-61 win over St. Edward.

Czaja is one of the leaders in the area in field goal percentage, as he's shooting around 60 percent.

"He should shoot a high percentage being so close to the basket," Drye said after the 61-42 win against Montini. "I thought our guys did a nice job finding him. If he keeps the ball up high, they can't strip him of the ball."