Balanced Larkin wins opener

Generally, having only one double-figure scorer might be seen as a sign of an off-night offensively. But in Larkin's case, it was a sign of the Royals' balanced offense.

Vincent Sarangaya led the way with 12 points, 5 other players scored between 6 and 8, and Larkin's defense smothered Woodstock North in a 54-34 win at the Hoops for Healing boys basketball tournament in Woodstock Monday night.

“We don't have anybody to whom we can say, ‘OK, we need you to get us 20,' ” said Larkin coach Deryn Carter. “Different guys at times, different matchups, things like that, so it worked out.”

Quantice Hunter added 8 points off the bench, Brent Cooks had 7, and Blake Grantham, Matt Rice, and Trevor Whitehead added 6 apiece for the Royals.

But the big story was the Royals' defense. They held the Thunder to 8 field goals on 28 percent shooting while forcing 25 turnovers.

Larkin also dominated the backboards, outrebounding the hosts 30-14. Grantham led the way with 7 boards.

All 12 Royals in uniform saw action and 9 scored.

“We're confident in any guy coming off the bench in their role,” said Carter. “We had a couple of guys contribute coming off the bench.”

Larkin never trailed. The Royals led 12-6 after one quarter, with Sarangaya scoring 5 of the points. Woodstock North got within 14-11 early in the second period, but Larkin outscored the Thunder 14-2 the rest of the half.

Zach Devore scored 8 of his team-high 11 points in the third quarter as the Thunder made another mini-run, getting within 36-26. But that was as close as Woodstock North got. Larkin slowly pulled away thereafter.