Geneva keeps its composure in pressure-packed spot

Never a doubt, right Geneva fans?

Right.

What a game, the most gut-wrenching game I've seen in a long time. More so than any of Geneva's wins in getting to state last year.

Between the missed free throws on both sides, some sloppy turnovers, questionable shot selection - I'm sure both coaches could point to the Vikings' 47-45 win in the Class 4A St. Charles North regional championship and say their team could have done several things better.

But I'd like to know how the game could have had any more drama, any more tension, any more all-out effort by both teams doing whatever they could to keep their season alive. In that respect, it most definitely was postseason basketball at its best.

From the atmosphere to the clutch shots to the comebacks to the controversy - what else could you want?

Not much more if you were rooting for the Vikings, who used their past success to help them keep their composure when their season seemed to be slipping away.

"Our experience last year, three years most of these kids have been playing together and I think that really helps," Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. "We just tried to take one possession and not look at the big picture because sometimes I think the big picture can be overwhelming."

The 10-point deficit didn't mark Geneva's biggest comeback win this year. That would be a rally from 15-point down against Bartlett.

Considering the circumstances, there's no doubt which comeback ranks first.

"It (Bartlett) wasn't late in the game," Geneva guard Sammy Scofield said. "We were definitely stressed out. It was a great win for us and it will teach us more lessons down the line."

I've gotten to know and like both Nolan and St. Charles North coach Colleen Brennan, plus plenty of players and families on each side. I would have been thrilled for either team that won. North certainly played well enough to be getting ready for a rematch with Cary-Grove.

That said, I'm glad the outcome didn't come down to perhaps the most ridiculous call I've seen all year, the technical foul on Geneva senior Lauren Wicinski in the third quarter. The foul call itself was questionable enough but the technical for Wicinski bouncing the ball after the call was a shame. If that merits a technical I've seen a hundred worse reactions from players throughout the year that were never whistled - some in this same game.

And had Geneva lost the game, it would have taken away from how well St. Charles North played because so much would have been made of the technical.

"I bounced the ball and they called it on me," Wicinski said. "I wasn't mad at the ref. (I was) very (surprised). I didn't say anything, I just bounced the ball."

Geneva overcame that, still looking forward to trying to get back to state with a greater appreciation for the North Stars. "Yeah, they were a lot better than I planned," Geneva guard Kat Yelle said. "They were a really good team.

"We just tried to keep our composure. Whenever Lauren got the technical we tried to clam everyone down."

Keeping their heads was impressive, but I thought the heart was even more.

Heart of a champion?

You bet.

jlemon@dailyherald.com