Geneva basketball player Margaret Whitley named St. Charles Bank & Trust Athlete of the Week

Margaret Whitley

Geneva

Girls basketball

Senior

What she did:

Whitley scored a game-high 21 points, including 11 in the third quarter of Geneva’s 54-25 rivalry win over Batavia on Dec. 16.

Geneva senior point guard Margaret Whitley wasn’t going to let her team lose to Batavia. Whitley caught fire from the field after halftime, connecting on 4-of-5 field-goal attempts (three 3-pointers) to help extend the Vikings’ lead and keep them unbeaten on the season. Whitley, the St. Charles Bank & Trust Athlete of the Week, caught up with Kane County Chronicle correspondent Chris Casey after the win to discuss playing the game without senior center Grace Loberg, the team’s start to the season and what lies ahead. Here is an edited transcript:

Casey: You guys must be pretty happy with the way you played without one of your best players, Grace Loberg, huh?

Whitley: It actually really helped us, playing without her for a game, because we saw what other strengths and weaknesses we have and what we need to work on moving forward. We’re obviously excited to have her back for the Montini Christmas Tournament coming up next.

Casey: It seemed like Batavia was never really comfortable offensively. Did you get that sense, too?

Whitley: It’s a Geneva-Batavia game. It wasn’t just any other game, you know. We lost to them on a buzzer-beater last year and we know they could have come back, but we wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.

Casey: What has been so key to this 8-0 start for your team?

Whitley: I think the chemistry and the will to want to win. Everyone on this team got a taste of going deep into the playoffs last year, and we want to go even further again. We all love playing together and I think it really shows when we’re out on the court.