By Bobby Narang –
In early December 2018, the Geneva High School boys basketball team nearly met an unbeatable foe.
Due to a teacher’s strike, Geneva’s players were forced to work out and plan informal practices on their own.
Geneva head coach Scott Hennig said he kept in constant contact with seniors Jack McDonald and Mitch Mascari. Prior to the strike, the Vikings won their first six games.
“It’s been a strange year in Geneva with the strike,” Hennig said. “We missed five school days. But they (the players) did stuff on their own. I couldn’t be there. But they (worked out during the strike). We have a lot of veteran players on this team, a bunch of gym rats and a lot of guys who want to play in college and that’s a motivation, too. They went to a gym, and they got stuff done and it showed.
“Jack and Mitch Mascari would go wherever they went (during the strike), not sure where they went, but they got stuff done.”
When the strike ended, the Vikings went back to work on keeping their record unbeaten. Besides being forced to reschedule a home game with St. Charles North for later this season, the Vikings’ record remained unblemished. Geneva will play at St. Charles North, 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.
The Vikings became the surprise team in the 41st Annual Wildcat Hardwood Classic at Wheeling High School. By beating Wheeling, Niles North, St. Viator, and Fremd, 45-41, in the championship game Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, the Vikings maintained an unblemished record at 13-0. The Vikings defeated Niles North, last season’s tournament champion, and knocked off St. Viator, which has a pair of Division I senior guards in Trey Calvin and Jeremiah Hernandez.
McDonald said the Vikings have a balanced team that can spread the floor and rely on their experience to beat teams. McDonald is making a name for himself. The 5-11 senior guard is starting to receive interest from numerous colleges. He scored 14 points in the victory over St. Viator.
“I make it work, even though I’m a little bit shorter,” McDonald said. “Hopefully, a couple of coaches will see that. There’s a lot more to basketball than size. I try and prove that every night by giving everything I have.”
The big games will continue quickly for Geneva, 13-0, 3-0, with a first-place DuKane Conference showdown Friday, Jan. 4 at home against Wheaton North, 9-6, 4-0. The Vikings will play a non-conference game at Elk Grove, 4-11, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5. Geneva will play Aurora Christian at 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 in the annual Kivisto Shootout at East Aurora High School.