Geneva answers St. Charles North's challenge
Playing at a breakneck pace is exactly what Geneva girls basketball coach Sarah Meadows envisions from her team prior to game time.
Utilizing a suffocating full-court pressure defense that features flailing arms and a genuine disregard for bodies, the Vikings stormed out to an 11-0 lead over St. Charles North in the first 1:55 of the opening quarter Tuesday night.
After the North Stars (7-20, 6-5) narrowed the gap to 18-12 by the end of the first period, they pulled within 19-17 on Sam Novak's 3-pointer from the top of the key in the first minute of the second quarter.
That's when the Vikings (21-4, 11-0) kicked it into another gear, going on a 20-1 tear over the next 4 minutes to take control en route to a 64-42 Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory over the host North Stars.
Sophomore guard Michaela Loebel fueled the run with 7 points, while junior forward/center Sami Pawlak netted 6 of her game-high 14 points.
"Our coach just said that we needed to stay back in there and not fall asleep," Loebel said after her team was challenged early by St. Charles North.
Their all-out pressure defense was evident throughout the first half, as the Vikings forced 18 first-half turnovers. During one stretch, Geneva scored 9 points in 60 seconds, capitalizing on 4 steals.
"We scored fast," said Meadows. "I looked and didn't know what the score was and then I looked and we were almost up by 10. It was a real quick turnaround. It's exactly how we want to play."
Loebel, who was on pace for a possible triple double if she hadn't been pulled after 3 quarters, finished with 9 steals and 6 assists. She had 7 points and 7 steals in the first 16 minutes, as Geneva led 41-20 at halftime.
"Michaela just doesn't stop," Meadows said of the 5-7 guard. "She's go, go, go all the time. I just said to the people on the bench, 'she's a sophomore.' It's hard to remember that she's 15 years old. She's looking really good right now."
Sophomore Morgan Seberger added 10 points for the Vikings, who have won 10 of their last 11, while Rachel Hinchman, Kelly Sharpe, Abby Novak, and Stephanie Sharpe each added 6 points.
When asked how she would feel as an opposing team's player, Loebel offered an honest assessment.
"I'd be ready for a team running everywhere looking for steals and being crazy on defense," she said. "We're all pretty athletic."
St. Charles North coach Colleen Brennan admitted that the Vikings forced her team to pick up the pace.
"They control you a little bit," said Brennan. "You forget what you're supposed to do. When we turn it over, it's 3-on-1 and it's definitely 2 points."
Megan Booe scored 10 points to lead the North Stars on Senior Night.
"I thought we made a lot of progress since the last time we played them (64-38 loss on Jan. 7)," said Brennan. "We shot the ball pretty well (17-of-35) tonight. But we gave them 30 extra possessions."
Geneva will try to complete an UEC River sweep Friday night at Batavia.