Geneva shakes off the rust, stops Sycamore

Some basketball teams don't survive a sluggish performance after nearly two weeks without a game.

Even though the score was 0-0 nearly halfway through the first quarter Friday night, host Geneva eventually did find its comfort zone and an effective interior defense to pummel Sycamore 57-35 in a Western Sun Conference contest.

Geneva (11-4, 4-1) hadn't been on a basketball court for a game since playing in the DeKalb Holiday Tournament on Dec. 26, while Sycamore (7-8, 1-4) played against Batavia on Tuesday night.

But it was the Vikings who shook off a coat of rust that had turned the game into something resembling a park district open gym session, with guards Nolan Block (16 points) and Alex Frederking (12 points) leading the way.

Forward Dan Trimble also contributed with a solid all-around effort in scoring 10 points, pulling down a team-high 8 rebounds and blocking four Sycamore shots.

"We just didn't get any good shots off early in the game and we were just kind of rushing everything," Trimble said. "We started settling down and finding (Brandon) Beitzel down low and getting inside shots."

Beitzel actually did break the early scoring drought at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter by gliding inside to convert a layup off an inbounds pass under the basket, but it was an array of 3-pointers that allowed Geneva to pull away early.

Block sank two 3-pointers and Frederking and Trimble each added one, while Trimble also added two short-range jumpers in boosting the Vikings to a 20-10 lead late in the first half.

"I questioned our execution, and in the start of the game it showed that we had a long layoff," Geneva coach Phil Ralston said. "We weren't sure what the good shots were, and we really weren't very patient."

Ralston said he was more impressed with his team's defensive effort in holding the Spartans to 16 points over three quarters.

"The kids did a nice job of executing what the scouting report told us," Ralston said. "By and large, it was a good, solid effort by our kids.

"Sycamore has really given some teams in our conference a lot of trouble, so I think that speaks well for our kids."

After going to the locker room with Geneva enjoying a 23-12 halftime lead, Sycamore coach Jeff Hillmer benched his starters to open the third quarter.

"I had to send a message that I wasn't going to tolerate that kind of play," Hillmer said. "I was pleased with the effort of the guys in the third quarter, and I was pleased with the seniors when they came back in the fourth quarter."

Hillmer said he wasn't frustrated with the lack of shots falling, but he couldn't tolerate his team's lack of attention to detail.

"I didn't think we played as hard as we were capable of, and it kind of snowballed on us tonight, with part of it maybe being the frustration of not making the shots," Hillmer added. "But they have to learn that attention to the small things is really important."

Sycamore had no player in double figures, with Sam Ford tallying a team-high 9 points. The Spartans shot only 26 percent from the floor, hitting 10 of 38 shots, while Geneva converted 19 of 42 for 45 percent.

Each team committed 22 turnovers in the game, but Geneva dominated the boards with a 38-21 rebounding edge.

The Vikings played without starting point guard Will Doeckel, who was sidelined with the flu, and guard Michael Santacaterina, who was not with the team.