Motivated Geneva blows out Belvidere North
Geneva coach Sarah Meadows didn't have any trouble getting her Vikings ready to play Belvidere North Thursday in their second game of Burlington Central's Thanksgiving Tournament.
All she had to do was bring up last year's result, a 56-53 Belvidere North win.
The Vikings made sure history didn't repeat itself in a dominating 67-27 victory.
Sophomore Kate Palmer scored a game-high 21 points and Lindsay Blackmore added 17.
"I remember that definitely was a tough game and this year knowing that was the only team we lost to (in this tournament) we wanted to come out strong against them," Palmer said. "I think that gave us an extra push and will to beat them today. It was a big motivation factor today."
Even Belvidere North (1-1) coach Aaron Leonard sensed the Vikings were playing with a little extra energy.
"Their coach at end of game said what did you do, get them fired up?" Meadows said. "Yes, that's exactly what we did. They knew. They knew last year they got us. That was a goal of ours to not let that happen again."
In last year's loss, Geneva (2-0) fell into an early 11-0 hole.
The opposite occurred this time, the Vikings' press setting the tone by creating one turnover after another in taking a 13-0 lead to start the game.
Palmer scored on a baseline drive to open the scoring, then assisted Blackmore for 3-pointer. Katie Montgomery banked in a 3-point shot, and Zosia Wrobel found Blackmore inside for a 10-0 lead.
Geneva forced 13 turnovers in the first quarter which ended with the Vikings up 26-5.
"That's exactly what we want to do," Meadows said. "We want to play fast, we want to be up in you. And then we want to get out and run. This team does a really nice job of that."
A layup by Natalie Horgan finally got the Blue Thunder on the board. But Geneva followed its game-opening 13-0 run with a pair of 11-0 surges that made it 37-5 on Palmer's floater midway through the second quarter.
The Vikings led 44-14 at halftime and 57-25 after three quarter. The fourth was played with a running clock with Niyah Udoiwod, Leah Davine and Carly Rasmusen scoring to cap Geneva's win.
Belvidere North finished with 27 turnovers and shot just 8 for 28 (28.5%) from the field. Palmer and Blackmore both had 4 of the Vikings' 17 steals.
"Our press is what defines us as a team," Palmer said. "It shows our athleticism. It's our main source of getting turnovers and I think we looked really good in it."
Freshman Cassidy Arni also gave the Vikings a lift with 10 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
"Our freshman is going to come on and on as the season goes and she's going to get more comfortable," Meadows said.
Madison Diercks led Belvidere North with 14 points.
The Vikings continue tournament play against Jefferson Friday, Guilford Saturday and finish against host Burlington Central (3-0) on Tuesday.