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Geneva dominates St. Charles North

Even with another win Geneva's girls basketball team is always trying to get better, and that was the case after beating St. Charles East Tuesday.

The Vikings weren't happy about their effort on the defensive end in that game, and they spent much of practice Wednesday and Thursday working on their defense and rebounding.

Geneva used Friday night's Upstate Eight Conference River matchup with St. Charles North to show that improvement.

The Vikings held the North Stars to 7 points in the second quarter and 2 in the third, outscoring them 44-9 over that stretch during a 65-36 victory.

"I think our defense was a huge improvement from the East game," Geneva junior point guard Stephanie Hart said.

"We had more of a drive to play good defense against this team because we knew how close the game was against East, and North could do the same thing. Focus on your player and what she can do and try to stop her from doing it."

Geneva's starters didn't play in the fourth quarter. For the first three quarters, the Vikings held the North Stars to 11-of-30 shooting (36.7 percent) while making an extremely efficient 23 of 38 (60.5 percent) themselves. Geneva also only turned the ball over once through three quarters to 13 for the North Stars.

"I was very pleased," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "We did work on some things this week after the East game but I think in general our kids know they have to be better. Some of that is mental. I thought our rebounding was better tonight as well."

Geneva (13-1, 6-0) completed a perfect first round of UEC River play heading into a Saturday nonconference matchup with Rufus King out of Milwaukee, the No. 3 ranked team in Wisconsin, at the Fremd Shootout.

St. Charles North (11-7, 3-2) stayed with the Vikings for a quarter Friday. Anna Davern's reverse layup tied the game at 2.

Grace Quinn knocked down a 3 and later a pullup jumper. Davern ended the quarter with two more baskets, keeping the North Stars within 16-13.

But while the North Stars cooled off shooting 3 of 9 in the second quarter with 6 turnovers, the Vikings were just getting started.

Maddie Yelle was able to shake her defender a couple times to score on backdoor cuts, thanks to crisp assists from Hart, Grace Loberg and Lindsay Blackmore. The Vikings' weave led to more high percentage shots and free throws converted by Margaret Whitley, Brie Borkowicz and Hart, among others.

"I felt we were playing team basketball," Meadows said. "We knew where each other were on the court."

Whitley led Geneva's balanced attack with 12 points, Loberg scored 11, and Hart and Yelle both added 10.

Davern topped all scorers with 14 points.

  St. Charles North's Elizabeth Olsem, left, and Geneva's Grace Loberg battle for the ball during varsity girls basketball at Geneva Friday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Leilauni Chanthaboury, bottom, and Geneva's Brie Borkowicz race for the ball during varsity girls basketball at Geneva Friday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Elizabeth Olsem tries to find a way past Geneva's Maddy Yelle during varsity girls basketball at Geneva Friday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
  St. Charles North's Anna Davern tries to navigate her way through Geneva's defense during varsity girls basketball at Geneva Friday night. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
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