Inside-outside duo lifts Geneva over WW South
Junior guard Nathan Valentine provided the long-range fireworks with five 3-pointers and 19 points while senior Josh Preston, the lone starter back from a year ago, muscled his way to 15 points inside.
Geneva's dynamic duo scored 34 of the team's 50 points as the sixth-seeded Vikings toppled fourth-ranked Wheaton Warrenville South 50-35 to win the Class 4A Geneva regional Friday night.
The win gave the Vikings consecutive regionals. WW South ends the 2019-2020 campaign with a 20-12 mark.
The Vikings (19-10) will play in the Addison Trail sectional against Lake Park at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Lancers won their own regional with a 55-43 win over Hinsdale Central.
Valentine, who made his first four 3's of the game, was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
"They were double teaming Josh and I knew I had to make my 3's," said Valentine. "I did well in the 3-point shooting contest and it carried over to the game. I know when my shot is going in. I was in a good groove tonight. We set up some great sets and I found the open gaps in the zone and was able to knock down my shots. Winning this regional is a dream come true. We are not done yet. We want to win the sectional."
Along with 15 points, Preston snared 10 rebounds.
"Nathan did a great job of hitting the 3's early which loosened up their defense," said Preston. "For such a young team we have amazing chemistry. It is a tremendous feeling to win a regional at home."
Geneva third-year coach Scott Hennig praised Valentine and Preston along with his team's effort.
"Nathan is a gym rat and he has such quick release," said Hennig. "He has had eight 3s in a game this year. They concentrated on Josh and Nathan had some great looks. Nathan's 3s opened up things for Josh in the middle. Josh was patient and got some openings inside in the second half. We were very good defensively holding a very good Wheaton Warrenville team to 35 points. With Josh the only kid who played significant minutes, the younger kids have really meshed together. Winning back-to-back regionals is quite an accomplishment."
The game was close early as Jaylen Brown hit a 3-pointer for the Tigers to tie the score at 13 with 3:22 left in the first half.
That would be the last points the Tigers would score in 6 minutes and 51 seconds.
Geneva scored the last 9 points of the second quarter and the first 10 points of the third quarter to complete an impressive 19-0 run to seize control of the game and led 32-13 with 4:31 left in the period. Geneva was 4-of-5 from 3-point range during the run.
Valentine, Preston, Mason Mascari and Dylan Fuzak all drilled treys for the regional champs.
"They are very hard to defend with Valentine outside and Preston inside," said Wheaton Warrenville South coach Mike Healy. "I am immensely proud of this group. We didn't have a lot coming back but we grinded out a phenomenal 20-win season. This is an unbelievable group of kids."
Tyler Fawcett led the Tigers with 11 points.