Geneva seizes momentum at WW South

In Geneva's run to back-to-back Class 4A championships, the Vikings were adept at seizing the momentum during a pivotal stretch to win close games.

The Vikings won three of their four state games by a total of four points, including both state title games by a combined margin of 3 points.

When Wheaton Warrenville South struggled shooting the ball and hitting the boards early in third quarter on Saturday afternoon, the Vikings pounced on the opportunity.

Katherine Palmer buried two 3-pointers and Lindsay Blackmore also drilled a 3 in the third to give the Vikings enough of a cushion to pull out a 47-38 road win in DuKane Conference action.

The 6-foot Blackmore took control in the middle, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Palmer, a sophomore guard, made three 3s to end with 13 points for the Vikings (5-2, 1-0).

Kylie Ruggles hit two 3s - both in the final minute - to lead the Tigers with 13 points, while MacKenzie Stebbins finished with 8. The Tigers lost to the Vikings in the sectionals each of the last two seasons.

The Vikings dominated the glass against the smaller Tigers (2-4, 0-1), plus hit four 3s in the second half.

"Our first look was inside because they are a very fast team and trying and take away those perimeter shots," Blackmore said. "They left us some openings down low, but we got some outside (shots), too. … Rebounding was definitely an advantage for us."

In a back-and-forth first half that featured many lead changes, the Vikings opened the third quarter with 5 second-chance points in their first seven possessions. Palmer canned a 3 to give the Vikings a 27-23 lead that they would not relinquish.

"It was a big game, so it felt great (to do well)," Palmer said. "We kind of take what the defense gives us, but 3s were a huge part of it today."

Blackmore's corner 3 padded the Vikings' lead to 33-26, then Palmer, after an offensive rebound extended the possession, buried a 3 at the buzzer to extend the lead to 36-28.

"We knew they were coming after us, so we wanted to show that we could come back even harder and work hard on both sides of the floor and win," Palmer said.

Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said the third quarter was the difference in the game.

"We talked about rebounding and that we had to outrebound them," she said. "We couldn't allow them to have scrappy offensive boards and we had to crash hard."

After shooting 1 for 9 on 3s in the first three quarters, the Tigers nearly pulled off a comeback win in the rivalry game by making three 3s in the final six-plus minutes. The Tigers shot 4 for 17 on 3s.

"We didn't shoot well, and we have to figure that out," Wheaton Warrenville South coach Rob Kroehnke said. "We can play defense."