Larkin gets the message, tops Richmond-Burton

Larkin girls basketball coach Ruben Flores must have gotten his message across.

Flores subbed all five players - including four starters - with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter Saturday afternoon, trailing Richmond-Burton 7-4. That group returned a minute later, down 10-6.

The Royals outscored the Rockets by 10-4 the rest of the quarter and never trailed again in a 61-45 victory in Pool B play at the Burlington Central Thanksgiving Tournament.

"I wanted to see the offense run, and it wasn't run. So I made a line change," Flores said of the changes. "I thought it wasn't where we needed it to be. I thought the game was going to slip away if I didn't do something to stimulate the starters."

Quixmia Washington and Marlee Kyles had back-to-back baskets after returning to the floor to tie the game at 10-10. Kyles scored 4 more points in the final 1:25 as Larkin (2-2) took a 16-14 lead after the first quarter.

"(Flores) said we needed to be more intense and run through the plays or else he was going to sit us," said Washington, a senior who finished with a game-high 21 points. "We didn't want to sit down."

Kyles scored 7 points and Washington added 6 in the second quarter as the Royals extended their lead to 33-26 at halftime.

Larkin got a boost from junior Samantha Wahl in the third quarter, a welcome sign for a team looking for a third scoring option.

Wahl scored 7 points in the third quarter and finished with 11 for the game.

"It's great to see Sam step up," Flores said. "I've been waiting for it. I have high expectations for Sam."

Kyles, a sophomore, finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Sara Swanson led Richmond-Burton with 10 points.

Earlier Saturday, Larkin lost to Prairie Ridge, 53-37. Washington led the Royals with 11 points. Kyles added 9.

The Royals will play Belvidere North at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Central Middle School in the fourth place game.