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Another starter down, Larkin still rolls over Batavia

Larkin lost another starter Thursday, but didn’t miss a beat Friday night.

Without starting guard Derrick Streety, Kendale McCullum scored 21 points in the first three quarters and paced the Royals to a 64-40 Upstate Eight River boys basketball victory over Batavia in Elgin.

“If you would have told me this 24 hours ago, that we would have come out and play the way we did, I would have been proud,” Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. “But seeing it, being part of it, I’m more proud than I can explain because we’ve been through a lot. A lot of guys out and shuffling lineups.”

Streety injured his thumb in practice Thursday. Carter said they will know more about the injury Monday after the swelling goes down. The Royals are also missing a couple bench players for various reasons.

The Royals (16-3, 7-0) got Andrew Jones back Friday after an ankle injury. The senior didn’t start and didn’t play more than a few minutes, but could have if necessary. He just wasn’t needed.

Ten seconds into the game McCullum threw an alley-oop for freshman Christian Negron, the second straight game the Royals have started with a Negron dunk. The pair combined for another alley-oop with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead. Larkin scored the first 12 points and never trailed by less than 8 the rest of the game.

McCullum had 10 points, 4 steals and a block in the first quarter.

“Being a captain I know that I’ve got to set an example for the people coming in and playing with us and let them know that we still have to play no matter who we have,” said McCullum, a senior. “We still have to play our game.”

McCullum finished with 21 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Negron added 9 points with all 4 of his baskets coming on alley-oops from McCullum, including one off the backboard in the third quarter. Tanner Gardon, normally not a starter, also had 9 points. Brayden Royse added 8 points and 7 rebounds.

The Bulldogs (6-12, 1-7), who have lost three straight games, won’t have a chance to dwell on the blowout loss. They host Elgin Saturday, and Batavia coach Jim Nazos is happy to have another game right away.

“We play (Saturday). We’re going to come back. We have to take on a certain attitude to have success,” Nazos said. “It’s going to start with that. Not every time it’s about missed shots.”

Batavia shot just 31 percent (13 of 42) and had 17 turnovers. Ryan Olson led the Bulldogs with 9 points off the bench. Batavia’s starters combined for just 21 points.

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