By Bobby Narang –
After winning back-to-back Class 4A State championships, the Geneva High School girls basketball roster features a completely different look.
Losing all five starters from last season’s team, the Vikings’ retooled roster remains focused on continuing the program’s rise to among the elite in the State.
Seven games into the season, the Vikings are on track for another 20-victory season. Geneva defeated Wheaton Warrenville South, 47-38, in first-year DuKane Conference play Saturday.
Last season, Lindsay Blackmore averaged six points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. As one of the most experienced returnees, the six-foot Blackmore took control in the second half against the Tigers by attacking the glass and making long-range jumpers. She finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Katherine Palmer made some big shots in the comeback victory. She buried three three-pointers to finish with 13 points. Palmer said she’s excited about playing on the varsity for a team with a championship tradition.
“It feels great,” she said. “I love the opportunity that I’ve been given and coming up has been awesome.”
Early this season, Palmer is showing signs of becoming the next standout guard for the Vikings. Margaret Whitley and Stephanie Hart forever will be etched in Geneva history for their ability to make clutch shots.
“She has that ability,” veteran Geneva head coach Sarah Meadows said of Palmer. “She’s done that before this year already. She’s a really good basketball player. It’s just getting her to play more consistently. She’s young, but that’s okay. We like that.”
• Nearly 25 minutes away Saturday, the Batavia girls suffered a 49-45 loss to visiting Maine South in the Chicagoland Invitational Showcase at Fremd High School in Palatine. With all five starters back, the Bulldogs, 3-5, are seeking to top last season’s 18-victory total. Batavia head coach Kevin Jensen said six-foot senior Geddy Rerko is a player to watch this season.
“She’s a six-foot shooting guard who has a high shooting percentage on the three,” he said.
Rerko said she works hard on her defense and rebounding, but understood that she had to be more aggressive this season.
“My aggressiveness is definitely something I’ve been working on,” she said. “I’m shooting and taking (the ball) to the basket and getting better. My shooting is better because I’m taking it more so my percentage is naturally going to go up.”