Senior guard Liah Palmer knew that he had to change his attitude in this season for Geneva.
Handling as a major scorer of Vikings, Palmer did not have luxury of uppercase like Cassidi Arni, so he realized that this show was going to be his show from Gate-Go.
“As a mentality, I’ve got much better with it,” said Palmer. “I just want to come out and start starting as hot as you can. I am worried about coming out with some energy, help my team out as much as possible.”
help? Palmer did not need much on Thursday night.
He placed in a clinic in the first half against host Hilltoppers, a total of 18 points and 10 rebounds by Haftime during a 45–32 win in the Class 4A Glenbird West Regional Championship game.
Palmer produced a double-dobbal with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Geneva (22-8), which proceeded to play in the Batavia sectional semi-finals against Central North (27-4) at 7:30 pm on Tuesday evening, which was a 35–22-winning winner on the host lake park for regional titles.
Perry Sweeni added nine points to the Vikings. Sophia Brown led Glenbird West (26–7) with 11.
In the first half, Palmer scored 10 points in the first quarter and also assisted in another basket of Geneva. Then he added eight points and another assistance in the second quarter.
For intellect, Palmer scored or assisted all 23 points as the Vikings gained a 23–16 halftime lead.
Geneva’s Lia Palmer (22) drives for the basket as Makena Yezar and Lily Hubch of Glenbard West, who defends during the class 4A Glenbard West Regional Championship game in Glen Elin on Thursday, on 15 February, 2024. (James C. Swahala / Bicon News)
“Unprecedented,” said Sara Meadows, the coach of Geneva. “He is a great basketball player, the period. He is able to do so. I think people are surprised and like it, ‘Why?” He is very good.
“This is such that we expect it to be honest.”
Hot start was an indication of how Palmer has worked on that different mentality.
“I knew Glenbard West was physically coming out and he did,” he said. “They came out and hit a group of shots, so I just wanted to do everything to keep my team in the game.
“We were not killing our shots, so I wanted him to help us move forward, so we did not have a lot of losses.”
Glenbard West made a concrete effort to slow down the palmer in the second half, but it simply helped more. Geneva started bursting 11–2 in the third quarter.
Geneva’s Hope Iil, Middle, Liah Palmer, Right, and Makena Year of Glenbird West on Thursday scrambled for a loose ball during the Class 4A Glenbird West Regional Championship Game at Glennbard West Regional Championship Game, on 15 February, 2024. (James C. Swahala / The Beacon News)
Palmer scored two points and the lead increased to 34–18 as two assistance. Vikings led 20 points in the fourth.
Palmer said, “The face guard, it was difficult to be open.” “They were helping heavy, which was very good because I was able to dish my peers. I was able to find them.
“If I have three girls, I am going to find an open team partner.”
Meadows said that Palmer’s passing is an undefied part of his game.
“They pressurized him and then distributed the ball,” said meadose. “It likes,” If they are going to double me, then ‘score a leup. ” This is another good part of his game.
“She looks at the floor and understands it.”
Lia Palmer (22) of Geneva and her comrades celebrate with a plaque after being host hosts in the class 4A Glenbird West Regional Championship Game in Glennbard West Regional Championship Game on Thursday, 15 February 2024.
Glenbard West Coach Christie Folkner said that Palmer was too high to handle.
“He is a great player,” said Falkner. “We had a difficult time. We had a game plan, and credited them. He really played well.”
Vikings will face an familiar enemy on Tuesday in St. Charles North. Both teams divided their two regular season games.
But Meadows believes, as the spotlight grows, the palmer will reach the challenge.
“He is a gamer,” said Meadows. “She is a contestant. She wants. She feeds on it. She wants the best, and she is not going back to her.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for Bekan-News.