Nolan, Whitley will join Geneva's Hall of Fame

When the Geneva girls basketball team takes the court Feb. 5 for its rematch with Batavia as part of a rivalry night girls-boys doubleheader, the Vikings are going to be reminded of a big part of their past.

Geneva is inducting its 2016 Hall of Fame class at halftime of the boys game, and two of the three were in the middle of the Vikings' rise to becoming a girls basketball power in the 2000s that remains alive and well today.

Former coach Gina Nolan and all-time leading scorer Taylor Whitley - along with current principal and standout athlete Tom Rogers - are joining Geneva's Hall.

"I was surprised," Nolan said. "I found out in an email and I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' Incredibly honored and very humbled to be inducted. It makes it extra special (going in with Whitley). Having Taylor with me all four years makes it really special."

Whitley, a 2-time Daily Herald All-Area Captain, scored 2,131 points. She played at Indiana State where she met her husband, and the couple now lives in South Carolina with their 1-year-old son. Whitley's younger sister Margaret is Geneva's starting point guard and her older sister Caty coaches Geneva's freshman team.

Rogers also has a connection to the Geneva girls basketball program under Nolan. His daughter Dori was a sophomore on Nolan's 2009 team that made it downstate for the first time in school history, and his daughter Kate played on Geneva's 2014 state team.

By that time Nolan had turned the program over to current coach Sara Meadows, retiring in 2011 due to health reasons. Good news on that front, too. This summer Nolan celebrated her fifth year of being cancer free.

Nolan started as Geneva's freshman coach in 2002 and became the sophomore coach the following year before beginning her 7-year run as varsity coach in 2004.

During those seven years the Vikings won 173 games and lost just 38.

"So many memories," Nolan said. "Going downstate was a huge memory. Going downstate was great but what sticks out in my mind was winning the supersectional at Loyola and seeing two fan bus loads and I think half the town of Geneva was there. For me that kind of culminated what that was all about, the community support and the excitement and being able to accomplish that. We had more people there than New Trier did (who Geneva beat) and they were just up the road."

Whitley was a senior on that 2009 state team that took a 32-0 record to ISU before losing twice to finish fourth. She was joined in the starting lineup by Emily Hinchman and three sophomores - Kat Yelle, Lauren Wicinski and Kelsey Augustine - who continued Geneva's winning ways the next two years. And it really hasn't stopped since.

Seeing the Vikings maintain their level of excellence is quite rewarding to Nolan.

"I'm proud of what we built and what we accomplished," Nolan said. "It took a team effort between the girls and the assistant coaches I had though the years and the parent support and community support. I have a lot of pride in how all encompassing it was and the crowds we drew at the home games.

"The relationships I've developed with former players and former coaches mean the world to me. More than any wins and losses."

Nolan still goes to many of Geneva's games.

"I love being able to support Sara and everything she is doing to continue the program in such a strong way," Nolan said. "I don't know as many of the girls anymore, just a few I have in class or a few I remember from camp literally when they were in 5th and 6th grade. I love going just to support the program and our athletics in general."

While Nolan's stay as Geneva's coach wasn't long, her Vikings teams won big on the court in an uptempo, unselfish style that paved the way for the success that has continued since.

"For me it's an incredible honor," Nolan said. "Geneva has become a huge part of my life and now I'll have a place that will always be there on the wall. It is pretty cool."

Defensive stopper: Burlington Central guard Kayla Ross scored 16 points in a 64-37 win over Johnsburg on Tuesday, brining the senior's career total to 942 points.

While Ross nears the 1,000-point milestone, it's not her offense that Rockets coach Mark Smith is going to miss most when she and a special senior class graduates in May.

It's her defense. Ross had 8 steals against Johnsburg while checking the Skyhawks' top offensive threat.

"Ross is amazing," Smith said. "She's been so much fun to watch the last four years. If we have a matchup she's got to stop somebody she is able to do it. That is a huge advantage for us. She can defend just about anybody."

Ross likes that role.

"Defense is my favorite part of the game," Ross said. "I'm known as the Energizer Bunny. I love to be everywhere on the court, helping my team out any way. I love defense."

Ross also loves what Burlington Central has been able to do in the Big Northern East, never losing a conference game and now with a 42-game conference winning streak.

"Since 7th grade us 5 seniors (Shelby Holt, Samantha Cruz, Sam Pryor and Rebecca Gerke) have been undefeated in conference," Ross said. "Our goal this year was not to lose a conference game and I think this was our toughest game in conference. We do not want to lose a conference game."

Overcoming the odds: Aurora Central Catholic had a couple factors working against it over the holidays at the Oswego East tournament.

For one, the Chargers were the second smallest school of the 16 teams competing. And they were missing a pair of starters, wing Veronica LaVia (concussion) and post Sabrina Ganofsky (knee).

Despite that the Chargers won their final three games to take the consolation crown, beating Joliet Central 49-29 to improve to 10-6.

All-tournament selection Taylor Harazin scored 11 points in that win after totaling 17 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots the previous day against East Aurora.

"We all know how to play with each other," Harazin said. "At the beginning we were trying to do it ourselves but now we are coming together and it's awesome."

Point guard Alex Johnston is another key to the Chargers' success. She's the second-leading scorer behind Harazin, and it's her passing and ballhandling that really get the Chargers going.

"I love to handle the ball," Johnston said. "I like to penetrate and kick out and getting the posts to come down with me and get them the ball. That's kind of what I do."

Johnston is a St. Charles resident who played junior high basketball at Thompson Middle School.

"Alex has just been tremendous," Chargers coach Mark Fitzgerald said. "She can handle the ball better than most in the area. She's been getting beat up like you wouldn't believe. She has been taking a pounding and gets back up and leads the team. I can't say enough about her. Her work ethic, now she's putting her mark on this program. I'm really happy for her."

Other than a third-place finish in 2012, the year the Chargers reached the Class 2A state tournament, this was the Chargers' best finish at Oswego East.

Fitzgerald is trying to prepare Aurora Central for a tough sectional field that includes Burlington Central, Kaneland and Sycamore, among others.

"I wanted to toughen that schedule because I don't want a postseason like last year," Fitzgerald said, referring to an upset regional-final loss to Rosary.

Elgin named Sky team of week: The Chicago Sky has selected Elgin High School as the third weekly winner of its 2016 High School Team of the Week program. Elgin receives the honor after being nominated for its remarkable impact in the community, as well as academic and athletic accomplishments.

The Elgin Maroons have one of the largest high school girls basketball programs in Illinois, with more than 80 girls playing on varsity, sophomore and freshman level teams. The program's greatest feat this season has been the freshman team winning its holiday tournament, which was only the program's second tournament title of any kind in the last 20 years. The Maroons pride themselves on their sportsmanship and the strides they have made as athletes and individuals each season.

In the classroom, the Maroons have combined for a 3.0 team grade-point average. The players dedicate much of their time off the court to volunteering in the community. They have helped with elementary students in the area through the Elgin High School Mighty Acorns Program to teach students about environmental science and through the School District U-46 Reading Nights to read books to young students.

Elgin is the third team to be acknowledged as a 2016 award recipient. As a Chicago Sky High School Basketball Team of the Week award winner, the Maroons are invited to enjoy a Chicago Sky game, where they will have the opportunity to watch the world's best female basketball players. At halftime of the game, the team will be honored at center court.