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Sophomore whiz too much for Geneva

When your team has compiled a 69-22 record over the past 3 seasons, losing streaks definitely are not commonplace. Geneva's girls basketball team had its losing streak extended to 4 games following a 64-55 setback at the hands of Gary West Side (Ind.) during Saturday's Chicagoland Invitational Showcase at Fremd High School in Palatine.

"We're not a bad team," said Vikings coach Sarah Meadows, whose team opened the season with 12 straight victories before suffering its first 3 losses to close out the Montini Tournament. "We're playing some competitive teams which will only help us when we get to the postseason."

Geneva started fast, opening a 19-14 first-quarter lead thanks to an inside bucket by Grace Loberg (15 points) and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Margaret Whitley in the final minute.

Gary West Side (8-5), led by superb sophomore point guard Dana Evans, picked up its defensive intensity in the second quarter.

While forcing 7 turnovers, the Cougars outscored Geneva 21-11 in the second quarter, fueled by a 7-1 stretch over the final 44 seconds of the first half.

Evans dished off to teammate Ashley Danzy (13 points) for a layup to start the late surge, then added a driving layup before senior guard Amari Ferguson (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals) knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give West Side a 35-30 halftime advantage.

The Cougars stretched the lead to as many as 9 in the third quarter while the Vikings struggled to get on track.

"In the second half, we came out a little flat," said Meadows. "We can't match the intensity when we know we're in a good game. We've got to be better than their intensity."

Playing in front of at least a dozen major college coaches/recruiters, including Boston College, Duke, DePaul, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin, West Side's Evans did not disappoint.

Evans, who added 8 assists, scored 11 of her game-high 28 points during the final 5 minutes.

"She's a great player - we knew that going in," Meadows said of Evans.

"She's an awesome player," added senior forward Janie McCloughan. "You've got to respect that."

The Vikings weren't about to go down without a fight as McCloughan connected on a pair of free throws to pull within 55-53 with 2:39 remaining.

After Evans hit 2 free throws of her own to make it 57-53, the Vikings committed back-to-back turnovers during a crucial stretch that saw Gary West Side tally 9 unanswered points - all on free throws.

"We've got to make free throws and we've got to make better decisions," said Meadows, whose team made 10 of its 19 foul shots.

McCloughan, who missed a few weeks after suffering a concussion, paced the Vikings with 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field while adding 9 rebounds.

"Janie played great," said Meadows. "She's starting to come into her own and she's starting to feel better."

McCloughan just wants her team to end its losing streak soon.

"We're almost there - just not quite," said McCloughan. "It's frustrating but we're working on it.

"All of this is a learning experience. Coach (Meadows) firmly believes that these games are going to pay off especially come postseason."

Abby Novak added 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the Vikings, who face Larkin Wednesday night in Geneva.

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