Prep Girls Basketball Insider: Vikes' press 'not gone for good'

While this note would seem to favor the former, it's important either way to document that the Vikings didn't use their longstanding signature during Friday's 60-56 home win against Batavia.

With speedy point guard Michaela Loebel (torn ACL) sidelined for the season, Geneva still is deciding which player to integrate at the top of the press. Senior Sami Pawlak is an option, but coach Sarah Meadows is wary about risking early foul trouble for the versatile forward.

"We definitely have to practice that [press] a little more, because that [through] the years has been one of our strongest assets," Pawlak said. "But we're not there yet. We're going to get there soon, though, because we're working on it a lot in practice."

Added Meadows: "It's not gone for good; it's just in the back right now."

Geneva defended Batavia differently than in past seasons thanks to a heavier post presence. Pawlak, Sidney Santos and Abby Novak all have the ability to score and rebound inside, giving senior Ellen Dwyer less of a run-and-gun responsibility at point guard.

Even as Batavia held the lead for much of the night until the final minutes, Geneva didn't budge."

"We didn't really expect the press to come, but if it was, we had a game plan to break it," Bulldogs junior guard Liza Fruendt said. "But their press is very, very hard to play with."

Oh, very young
Another week, another chance for Batavia coach Kevin Jensen to laud freshmen Hannah Frazier and Bethany Orman.

Frazier, a post, had 18 points and 12 rebounds points in a home victory against St. Charles North on Nov. 27 before Orman's nine points from the backcourt kept the team close at Geneva.

"I think there were a couple moments when the freshmen showed they were freshmen, but they both had a solid effort [Friday]," Jensen said. "That's going to make them better down the road. Because we're going to have a game against Waubonsie Valley. We're going to go to Oswego to play Minooka, Neuqua Valley and probably somebody else real good. We're going to go Montini and play someone real good. We're going to see Geneva again."