Way To Go Chris Jordan

Vikings' plan: Jordan rules

By PAUL JOHNSON - pjohnson@kcchronicle.com
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GENEVA – Geneva senior center Chris Jordan had his mission laid out for him all week in practice leading into Friday’s game against DeKalb.

With talented 6-foot-10 sophomore center Jordan Threloff assigned to cover Jordan, it was his turn to step outside against the big man and hit some jumpers.

“We told Chris in practice this week that the big guy is going to guard him and he’ll be able to step away from the basket,” Geneva coach Tim Pease said. “Chris can make baskets for us.”

In the first three possessions of Friday’s 79-56 Western Sun Conference win, Jordan got his Vikings off to a fast start using that philosophy.

He took the ball into the post and drew a foul on Threloff and hit both free throws to start the game. Then he hit a three-pointer from the wing and a three from the corner.

By the time he streaked in for a rebound put-back a few possessions later, Geneva had ripped off a tone-setting 13-2 start to the game.

“We knew when we did that we were in control and we weren’t going to let down,” Jordan said.

DeKalb (2-5 overall, 1-2 WSC) managed to claw back to within 25-17 in the second quarter, but Max Cary’s three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer sent the Vikings into the break up, 33-21.

That momentum carried over to the second half with layups from Jeremy D’Amico and Jordan and a three-pointer from Jordan to start the third quarter and push the lead to 40-21.

As has been typical of the team all season, somebody else took over from there for the Vikings (6-2, 2-1) in the third. It was point guard Alex Turnowchyk’s turn to get hot, and did he ever warm up.

He hit four three-pointers in the third quarter, scoring 14 total points. The final two threes put the lead out of reach at 59-34. He hit 5-of-7 from behind the arc in the game.

“Every game it’s a different person, so that’s what we work on in practice,” Turnowchyk said. “We have a bunch of guys we can rely on. We’re a bunch of team guys. We have good team chemistry. Nobody really cares who scores. We’re all happy for each other.”

Cary dipped into his soccer conditioning to wear the Barbs down in the fourth. With DeKalb trying to keep up with the run-and-gun Vikings, Cary looked like he was taking a stroll in the park, scoring 10 of his 19 points by beating the Barbs up and down the court for layups.

“It just proves to you how great their athletes are,” DeKalb coach David Rohlman said. “One of the things that I really think they do well is the way they share the basketball and move without the ball. They all seem to be working together.”

Cary and Jordan each scored 19 points to pace a balanced Geneva attack. Turnowchyk added 17 and D’Amico scored 15.

Despite having to chase Jordan around most of the night, Threloff still paced DeKalb with 16 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots. Point guard Jon Umoren added 15 and Tyler Smith scored 10 for the Barbs.