Geneva overcomes adversity in win

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:58PM

Geneva girls basketball coach Gina Nolan spoke to her team in the locker room before its game Friday in the Vikings tournament. Nolan, who is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, told her players that she would not be with them for a while.

The No. 5 Vikings rolled to a 65-30 win over Rosary to set up today's title match of the Geneva Invitational against Montini.

Tim Pease, who coached the Geneva boys team for 15 years before resigning after the 2007-08 season, has stepped in in Nolan's absence. Pease's daughter, Kelsey, is a senior forward for the Vikings.

"It's really tough," Geneva's Ohio U.-bound guard Kat Yelle said. "[Nolan] needs her rest and we need her to get better and come back at full strength. This team is different. Sammy [Scofield] and I used to be the shortest ones, now we're in the paint rebounding."

"It is definitely different," said Scofield, who is headed to Notre Dame to play soccer. "She told us that she is thinking about us and she wants to be here. I think we'll be OK."

Geneva built a 21-6 first quarter lead and never looked back. Junior Ashley Santos led the way with 20 points Scofield scored 11 and Rachel Hinchman 10. Breann Maryanski scored to for the Royals.

"Our girls are up to the challenge," Pease said about Montini. "The players all know each other and they wanted this challenge. [Montini] is a load and we have a job to do."

"We're up for the challenge," Santos said. "We want to push the tempo."

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