Defense keys big win for Batavia at Geneva
Batavia boys basketball coach Jim Nazos described the last two weeks of practice as "a little bit of hell" for his players.
Such a crucible made Friday's 63-53 victory at rival Geneva feel that much more heavenly.
Following consecutive losses to Lake Park, Downers Grove North and Glenbard North in which the Bulldogs allowed 59 points per game, practice time was devoted almost exclusively to defensive improvement.
Batavia (4-4, 1-2) responded by forcing 7 fourth-quarter turnovers that helped lift the Bulldogs to the DuKane Conference road win.
"That's one of our things that we lacked the last couple of losses, defensive communication and just staying in spots," Batavia senior Jayden Johnson said. "We really focused on that all week. It really carried over to the game and we got a great win."
The game was tied 42-42 when Johnson deflected a ball and scored on a leaner at the other end.
Junior Luke Fehrenbacher forced another turnover on Geneva's next possession. Senior guard Tyler Cooper immediately capitalized with a short jump shot that staked Batavia to a 46-42 lead with 4:22 remaining.
Geneva (5-3, 1-2) was whistled for traveling with 3:53 left. Batavia then stretched the lead to 6 points when sophomore forward Ethan Ivan was fouled on a putback attempt and sank a pair of free throws.
"I just felt like we had some mental mistakes in the fourth quarter that we usually don't have," Geneva coach Scott Hennig said.
Geneva committed 11 of its 14 turnovers in the second half.
"I give our guys a whole bunch of credit," Nazos said. "Practices haven't been easy or fun, watching film probably hasn't been too much fun. It's the part of the season with ups and downs. It's a great win against a great team."
The Vikings pulled within 3 points on a three-point play by senior Josh Preston, who led Geneva with 16 points.
However, on the ensuing possession the Vikings fouled Batavia guard Kyle Neibch in the act of shooting a 3-pointer. The sophomore sank all three free throws to restore a 6-point lead.
The Vikings drew within 55-53 on Drew Johnson's bucket off a turnover with less than two minutes to play, but a pair of Jayden Johnson free throws and Fehrenbacher's steal and breakaway layup with 1:05 left tipped the scale toward the Bulldogs.
Jayden Johnson sank 8 fourth-quarter free throws to finish with a game-high 21 points. Ivan sank all four of his attempts from 3-point range in a 14-point performance.