Geneva answers early wakeup call
Lindsay Blackmore's alarm clock went off at 5 a.m. Margaret Whitley started firing jumpers in the Geneva gym at 6 a.m.
A couple hours later, Whitley drained those same 3s on the Montini court, while Blackmore provided a spark off the Vikings' bench in Geneva's 66-44 victory over St. Joseph playing in the 8 a.m. game of the ninth annual Montini Christmas Tournament.
The Vikings opened the game on a 10-0 run and led 19-1 a little later while building leads of 40-17 at halftime and 57-28 after three quarters. Geneva's starters didn't play in the fourth.
"We just wanted to get a good start," said Blackmore. "I know it's early. We couldn't make the silly mistakes, we had to focus on every little thing. We needed to make the jump on them."
Geneva (11-0), the defending Class 4A state champions, is trying to win its first Montini tourney crown. The Vikings lost to Montini in the semifinals last year and took third, their best showing.
"I think we're looking to make a statement," Whitley said. "This is our first tough matches. We had a really good week of hard practice before this. We're ready and excited. Against all these high ranked team it is good to see where we're at."
The Vikings advance to the quarterfinals Thursday against Marian Catholic, a 46-43 winner over Lake Zurich.
They can sleep quite a bit longer if they prefer with an 8:15 p.m. start time. On Wednesday, some players arrived at the school at 6 a.m. to shoot before the bus left at 6:30.
Whitley scored the first 8 points including a 3 after Stephanie Hart intercepted a pass and fed her four-year teammate. Whitley added another 3 in the first quarter that ended with Geneva up 21-5.
"It's hard but (coach Sarah) Meadows said she didn't want to hear we're tired," Whitley said of the early start. "We had to get to bed early. That's what it's all about, you have to be the team that wants to do those things."
Whitley found Madison Mallory on a backdoor cut for a lay-in early in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 25-5. Whitley scored 16 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 18 including four 3-point baskets.
"Margaret has overall just matured," Meadows said. "Understanding the game of basketball, working on the mental side of the game. I think she's come far in that as well. Being a smart basketball player, I think she's grown a lot in that. I thought she passed the ball excellent today. Not only is she scoring but she's sharing the ball."
Blackmore added 10 points and 6 rebounds, Maddy Yelle finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds and Mallory chipped in 8 points and 5 boards.
Meadows was able to give her bench extended playing time in the second half. Katie Montgomery went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line, Jenna Segebrecht made a pair of baskets, and Emma Kornak, Cassidy Navigato and Brittany Caskey all added 2 points as Geneva got off to a good start in its bid for a Montini tournament title.
"This is for sure a goal of ours," Meadows said. "Our kids truly believe they can do it. This group is a competitive group. Our kids asked to come in early (to shoot). That's the kind of group we have. They are focused and are ready to compete."
Annissa Lemon and Maia Marsall both scored 12 points to lead St. Joseph (6-8).
"We didn't come out with a lot of energy," St. Joseph coach Andrew Winston said. "It took us a half to get started. No excuses. Geneva is really big and they are fast and they are super disciplined. They are coached really well. Second half I felt we played with a lot more energy and effort."