Taylor Whitley knew she and her Geneva teammates had something to prove entering the final weekend of girls basketball.
The Vikings headed into Friday’s semifinal against Young with a 32-0 record. They left Redbird Arena on Saturday night at 32-2.
“It was disappointing, but I was proud of everyone and you’ve just got to try and think about the memories we made,” said Whitley, a senior headed to Indiana State.
She was well aware there were doubters among the fans who “said that Geneva never plays any competition.” But the Vikings held a 31-30 lead over defending champion Young with 2 minutes 42 seconds left in the third quarter of their semifinal before the Dolphins took control. Whitley had 25 points in that loss.
Geneva was tied with Wheeling in the third quarter of their third-place game before the Wildcats pulled away to a 59-40 victory.
“Everyone says that Geneva never plays any competition, but we wanted to show them and got Downstate and played two of the best teams,” she said. “We never backed down.”
Queen Lee
Wheaton Academy senior Jennifer Lee hit nine three-pointers to win the Queen of the Hill competition, which pitted the three-point showdown winners from each of the four classes against each other on Saturday afternoon at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena. Lee, the representative from Class 3A, topped Class 2A winner Melissa Gardner, of Clifton Central, who made eight three-pointers. Highland Park senior Julie Behm tied with Class 1A competitor Bethany Dorrington, of Princeville, with six threes apiece.
In the stands
Illinois State’s women’s team is having an outstanding season and three of its standouts took in the 4A championships: Kristi Cirone (Resurrection), Kenyatta Shelton (Crane) and Ashley Sandstead (Buffalo Grove).
IBCA all-state selections
The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association released its Class 3A and 4A all-state teams Friday night. Six players that are participating in the state finals tournament at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena this weekend were named to the 15-player first team: Marshall’s Adrienne GodBold, Bolingbrook’s Morgan Tuck, Geneva’s Taylor Whitley, Wheeling’s Ashley Wilson, Peoria Richwoods’ Mariah Smith and Young’s Chanise Jenkins. The complete list of IBCA all-state selections follows:
First Team
Adrienne GodBold, Sr., Marshall
Brooke Bisping, Sr., Morton
Toni Kokenis, Jr., Hinsdale Central
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Tricia Liston, Jr., Fenwick
Morgan Tuck, Fr., Bolingbrook
Kersten Magrum, Sr., Lincoln-Way East
Taylor Whitley, Sr., Geneva
Kaila Turner, Sr., Marian Catholic
Kelsey Smith, Sr., St. Charles North
Samantha Arnold, Sr., Lake Park
Ashley Wilson, Sr., Wheeling
Mariah Smith, So., Peoria Richwoods
Chanise Jenkins, So., Young
Lydia Bauer, Sr., Lake Zurich
Monica Albano, Sr., Trinity
Second team
Allison Anderson, Sr., Springfield
Chloe Barnes, Sr., Quincy Notre Dame
Katie Norman, Sr., Freeport
Kelley Hendrick, Sr., Naperville Central
Meghan Holy, Sr., Loyola
Megan Sharpe, Sr., Edwardsville
Porsha Harris, Sr., Young
Suporia Dickens, Sr., Freeport
Katlyn Payne, Jr., Fenwick
Kelly Korza, Jr., Springfield
Ariel Massengale, So., Bolingbrook
Marquisha Harris, So., Moline
Natecia Augusta, So., Limestone
Whitney Holloway, So., Montini
Jewell Loyd, Fr., Niles West
Third Team
Alexis Jenkins, Sr., University High
Ashlee Anderson, Sr., Young
Jasmine Poteete, Sr., Marshall
Katie Hannemann, Sr., Providence
Kristin Judson, Sr., Normal University High
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Maddie Nieukirk, Sr., Peoria Richwoods
Molly Bardson, Sr., Ottawa
Satavia Taylor, Sr., Bolingbrook
Stephanie Harper, Sr., Charleston
Tiffany Kellum, Sr., Peoria Central
A.J. Ledbetter, Jr., Rock Island Alleman
Ashley Capotosto, Jr., Elk Grove
Janelle Cannon, Jr., Wheeling
Karlee Gengenbacher, Jr., Quincy Notre Dame
Katie Murphy, Jr., Peoria Richwoods
Karisma Chapman, Jr., T.F. North
Lauren Wicinski, Jr., Geneva
Uniquah Hampton, Jr., Hillcrest
Abbey Schmitt, So., New Trier
Megan Rogowski, So., Hersey