Dundee-Crown's late surge drops Larkin

Dundee-Crown saved its best for last.

Scoring the final 15 points of the game in the last 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the Chargers overcame a 6-point deficit to defeat Larkin 60-51 in nonconference girls basketball action in Carpentersville Tuesday night.

"It was a credit to Larkin to have a good game plan and they really attacked us," said Dundee-Crown coach Sarah Miller. "We had to overcome some adversity and some foul trouble. Our bench stepped up and I liked our fight at the end. We really competed and it was a group effort."

Larkin (3-7), playing without leading scorer Marlee Kyles (20 points per game average), held a 51-45 lead on a 15-footer in the lane by Tyra Lindsey. Those would be the last points the Royals would score.

D-C, 6-of-8 from the field for 75 percent during its game-ending run, got 6 points from Creighton Fed, who sat out most of the first half with foul trouble, 4 from Kayla Lawrence and a big 3-pointer from Lauren Lococo. Allison Michalski, who played only a minute in the first half because of foul trouble put the Chargers ahead for good, 53-51, with 51 seconds left. During the pivotal surge, D-C (3-7) forced 4 Larkin turnovers and turned 3 of the miscues into layup baskets.

"For three-and-a-half quarters we played great basketball," said Larkin coach Ruben Flores. "We played without Marlee and we overcame a lot of adversity. It was a frustrating loss but the girls battled the whole game and played with a lot of intensity and energy. We can learn from this and we know what we have to clean up."

Larkin started fast jumping off to a 11-3 lead on a 3-pointer by Samantha Wahl with 2:22 left in the first quarter.

Jesania Laboy had a monster night for the winners with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

'It was a tough night at times," said Laboy. "We got into some foul trouble with our starters but the players off the bench did a great job. We really stepped it up at the end at the end of the game at both ends. We believed in ourselves and got the job done."

Miller praised Laboy.

"She beasted it at both ends," said Miller. "She is our captain and leader."

Fed added 14 points for the Chargers. Quixmia Washington led Larkin with 15. Megan Chwee and Sarah El Rahmany scored 11 apiece.