Geneva junior forward Lauren Wicinski claims the Vikings saw the moment when they clinched the program’s first berth in the state semifinals coming “from the very beginning.”
And from the beginning of Geneva’s 54-49 victory over New Trier at the Loyola University supersectional Monday night, the Vikings played like the trip Downstate was theirs to take.
Geneva jumped to a 24-9 halftime lead and withstood a steady New Trier comeback to stay undefeated at 32-0. The Vikings will play defending champion Young in the Class 4A semifinals Friday at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena.
New Trier’s season ended at 30-5.
“We’re proving ourselves to everyone else,” said Wicinski, who finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. “We’ve worked really hard, and we’ve proved to our opponents that we can do it.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m so happy for our program and for everyone on the team.”
Wicinski scored nine first-half points and the Vikings forced 11 turnovers to bolt to the imposing lead heading into the locker room.
But New Trier, fueled by freshman Maggie Lyon’s 10 fourth-quarter points, came back to make a game of it. The Trevians cut the Vikings’ lead to 53-49 on a layup by Lauren Mathy with 15 seconds to play.
But Geneva senior Taylor Whitley hit one of two free throws with nine seconds left, and New Trier couldn’t score again.
“Our defense kept our heads in it, and we didn’t get too worried,” Geneva senior guard Emily Hinchman said. “We played good team basketball at the end.”
Hinchman had 14 points, eight assists and four steals and Whitley added 14 points for the Vikings.
Lyon and sophomore forward Abbey Schmitt both had 10 points and five rebounds for New Trier.
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ckane@tribune.com
