In a slump, St. Charles East’s Steven Call didn’t need to wake up. He just needed to drive to the basket. ‘It was big.’

There was a point during the season that St. Charles East’s Steven Call hit a lull in his productivity. A strong start led to a valley around the holidays.

Over the past couple weeks, however, the 6-foot-2 senior guard has pulled himself out of his funk — and he did it by getting to the basket.

“I like driving more,” Call said. “Driving more builds up my confidence to knock down the outside shots. I think it was just constantly attacking.

“I don’t think it was one specific thing (that ended his slump).”

That’s the formula Call used Wednesday night against Geneva.

Call drove twice to the basket as the Saints built an early 17-point lead in a 50-43 DuKane Conference win. When the Vikings got within two in the fourth quarter, he hit a 3-pointer.

All told, it was enough for St. Charles East (12-15, 6-6) to hold Geneva (22-6, 8-4) at bay.

“It was big,” Call said. “We kept moving the ball around and I was the open guy, so I just knocked it down. I just keep shooting with confidence.”

Drew Clarke led all scorers with 18 points for the Saints. Call contributed 15 points.

Jimmy Rasmussen scored 11 points for the Vikings. Tanner Dixon and Mick Lawrence each had 10.

One of the things that helped get Call back on track was his driving layup at the buzzer last Tuesday that helped the Saints upset Wheaton Warrenville South.

He was back in position Wednesday to impact the game late again.

“He started off the season hot,” St. Charles East coach Patrick Woods said of Call. “He went through a little spell. I feel like he’s got his legs under him now and he’s really confident.

“He’s a captain of our team. He’s finally coming into his own a little bit. That’s usually what happens the more minutes you get. The more you play, the more confidence you get.”

St. Charles East used a 20-0 run to take a 22-5 lead in the second quarter. Clarke hit two 3-pointers and scored 11 of his points in that stretch.

“He just needs to keep shooting like he has been,” Call said of Clarke. “For a little while his confidence was down, and like me, he’s gotten it back up. He’s knocking down shots.”

Steady Geneva stayed in the game, however. The Vikings cut the deficit to 39-37 with 3:00 left in the fourth on Dixon’s layup.

The next trip down the court, though, Call converted a 3-pointer. Brad Monkemeyer followed with a three of his own, and suddenly the lead was 45-37 with 1:50 left.

Call iced the game with two rebounds and three free throws in the final minutes.

“In the beginning of the year, we had a bunch of games where we came out on the losing end,” Call said. “Winning these close games is definitely helping us for the future.

“It definitely shows growth for the whole team.”

The Vikings, meanwhile, were left searching for an answer.

“I don’t know if it was a lack of focus,” Geneva coach Scott Hennig said. “We have a veteran group. If they can’t be focused for a rivalry game, I can’t do anything about that.”

In the second half of the conference season, St. Charles East has avenged losses to Geneva, Glenbard North and Wheaton Warrenville South.

“We talk about playing 32 minutes all the time,” Woods said. “We’re still not there yet, clearly. It’s been a long time since we got Geneva. I’m happy to get them.

“We’re heading in the right direction come playoff time, which is good.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.