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Larkin gets the drop on Barrington at Jacobs

When a contested off-balance 3-pointer by Larkin senior guard Charles Sanders popped up into the air off the front rim, it appeared the Hinkle Holiday Classic championship game with Barrington was headed to a second overtime Saturday night in Algonquin.

But when Sanders' shot at the buzzer dropped softly through the net, the Royals were headed onto the court for a wild celebration of a 69-66 overtime victory and a tournament title.

"Shooter's touch," Sanders said with a laugh.

"I thought we were going to (a second) overtime," said Larkin senior Juwan Stewart, who scored all 12 of his points off the bench after halftime. "I thought it was going off far left but it bounced in. I'm just so happy."

Especially after the Royals (12-4) had to rally from an 8-point deficit after three quarters and a pair of 1-point deficits in overtime with 6-foot-6 sophomore all-tournament pick Christian Negron (13 points, 12 rebounds) held to 2 points after the break. They also had to overcome losing 6-5 all-tourney pick Daniel McFadden late in the first quarter with a leg injury.

So Sanders was the biggest of their unlikely heroes in a game where Barrington (11-4) got 30 points and 11 rebounds from 6-9 junior all-tourney pick Rapolas Ivanauskas. After Larkin timeouts with 21 and 3.8 seconds left in overtime, Negron inbounded to Sanders, who drove around the top of the key and then had to adjust to the tough defense of Jake Orr.

"I was hoping the release was good and once the release was good I felt like it was going to be good," said Sanders, who was one of five Larkin players in double figures with Negron, Stewart, A.J. Hunter (15) and Tanner Gardon (12). "Once it hit the rim, I thought alright, we're going for double overtime. I looked and it fell in and there we go."

And there went Barrington's hopes of its first Jacobs title since 2009 in shocking fashion.

"When you look at the shot he took, I was definitely thinking we were going to double overtime," said Barrington 6-6 senior all-tourney pick Chris Lester, who had 15 points and contained Negron. "Jake Orr played great D and it was the guy we wanted to take the shot, but the rims are so forgiving here at Jacobs."

Lester's baseline leaner with 35 seconds left in regulation forced overtime at 63-63. Barrington took overtime leads of 64-63 on a free throw by all-tourney pick Ben Weber (11 points) and 66-65 on Ivanauskas' 2 free throws at 2:33. But Hunter, who scored off his own miss at 2:58, hit the second of 2 free throws at 1:26 to tie it at 66-66.

A pair of Hunter steals sandwiched around Weber drawing a charge on Negron set up Larkin's final shot.

"I thought we played great defense on that, but they threw in a prayer and that happens," said Barrington coach Bryan Tucker. "The message I gave our kids at the end is they played great defense on the last play, but we put them in position to make a shot and they did."

Lester's 3 two seconds before the third-quarter buzzer put Barrington up 52-44. Larkin answered with a 12-point run capped by Stewart's layup for a 56-52 lead.

Stewart's steal and dunk capped his 8-point fourth quarter and put Larkin up 63-59 with 1:58 left in regulation.

"It was basically a great chance to prove myself and I got my opportunity and flew with it," Stewart said.

"Every game he's had good body language and I've been telling him, 'Your time is coming, your time is coming,'" said Larkin coach Deryn Carter. "Tonight Juwan came off the bench and did some great things."

A long jumper by Ivanauskas got Barrington within 63-61 as it played its second straight overtime game after rallying to beat Zion-Benton in the semifinals.

"This helps our confidence a lot and now we know we can hang with anybody," Lester said.

"The kids did a great job and I'm proud of their effort," Tucker said. "The shot they made doesn't take away from what the kids did the whole tournament."

Images: championship game of the Hinkle Holiday Classic

  Barrington's Rapolas Ivanauskas slams home a dunk against Larkin in the Hinkle Holiday Classic championship game at Jacobs. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Christian Negron goes to the hoop against Barrington's Chris Lester on Saturday in the Hinkle Holiday Classic championship game at Jacobs. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Larkin'sCharles Sanders goes through a host of Barrington players on his way to the hoop in the Hinkle Holiday Classic championship game at Jacobs. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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