Batavia's defense quiets Burlington Central

With a 49-41 win over previously 10-1 Burlington Central on Tuesday, Batavia pulled within a game of .500 at 6-7.

But the Bulldogs aren't your typical .500 team.

With losses to Benet, Homewood-Flossmore, Lake Park and Rolling Meadows among others, Batavia coach Kevin Jensen believes in playing the toughest schedule he can find.

It paid off against the Rockets, holding them to 25 percent shooting (12 for 48), and the Bulldogs really hope it pays off Friday night when they welcome two-time defending state champion and rival Geneva to Batavia.

"We've lost some games we could have won definitely but we're using them in a positive way," said senior Ava Sergio, who tied Erin Golden with a game-high 15 points while adding 6 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

"(Geneva) is the best game of the season especially in our gym. I'm really looking forward to it."

Jensen credited Golden's work on the defensive end along with Allison Newberry and Geddy Rerko in holding the Rockets' top two scoring threats - Kathryn Schmidt and Elana Wells - to 13 and 8 points, respectively.

"Their two studs are legit studs and it took everything we had," Jensen said. "We did an outstanding job of matching up so they couldn't create much for their teammates either. They can put up a lot of points."

Batavia, who never trailed, held the duo to 9 points in the first half in building a 25-19 halftime edge. Newberry netted her only basket to send Batavia to the lockeroom up 6.

"We knew their two best players and I thought we limited them well," Sergio said. "They love to drive to the basket and dish and I thought our second helper did incredible and they didn't know what to do after that."

Schmidt made 2 free throws to start the second half, and after a Zoey Kollhoff free throw, she took a pass from Wells and sank a corner 3 to tie the game at 25.

But it was all Batavia from there, a 19-5 run spanning the third and fourth quarters opening a 44-30 lead. Freshmen Claire Nazos (8 points) and Alyssa Sarik (6) combined for 14 points.

"They play good defense," Rockets coach Mark Smith said. "It's a step up for sure in intensity and quality but I thought we had good shots, we just didn't hit them tonight. You can credit their defense but all the girls had good looks. That's the way it goes sometimes."