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Harvest Christian steps up again

Harvest Christian's girls basketball team has certainly had the courage of Lions when it comes to facing bigger schools this season.

For the third time in four tries the Lions knocked off a Class 4A opponent with a 64-59 win over visiting Larkin on Monday as part of the Elgin City Classic.

Junior Paulina Castro led the way with 20 points for Harvest. Kylee Knox and Rachel Oostdyk both recorded a double-double. Oostdyk had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Knox had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

"This feels really good," Harvest coach Rich DeTamble said. "I can't say enough about how these girls stepped up. They play fearless when facing these bigger schools. This kind of win is a team builder. A team maker."

Harvest (14-3), which won for the seventh straight time, led just 32-30 at the half. Castro had 12 points in the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers. However, Harvest started to pull away in the third quarter. The Lions opened the second half with a 9-0 run to go up 41-30. Oostdyk had a pair of putback baskets during the stretch.

"We just kept on working hard to box out under the basket," Oostdyk said. "We were able to do a good job of controlling the boards. We are ecstatic not only about the win but about the how well we played together as a team."

The Royals could get no closer than 5 points the rest of the way.

"There were a couple things we talked about at halftime that we were able to come out and do," DeTamble said. "We did a much better job of rebounding on the weak side. Rachel and Kylee really got it done for us tonight. Then we were able to get their guards in some foul trouble, so they couldn't be quite as active with their press."

Knox had 9 of her points in the second half.

"We really wanted this win," Knox said. "They beat us the last couple years and we are out to prove that we can play with these kind of teams."

The Lions next face Westminster Christian in the ongoing City Classic on Saturday.

"We are excited to be a part of the tournament again this year," DeTamble said. "We haven't fared that well in the past, but this year we can run some numbers out there and we are able to play a lot of different looks on both offense and defense."

Marlee Kyles had a big game for Larkin (4-13) in a losing effort with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Royals are now 1-1 in the tournament.

Images: Larkin at Harvest Christian girls basketball

  Larkin's Sarah El Rahmany gets to a loose ball before Harvest Christian's Kylee Knox Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Harvest Christian's Paulina Castro fights through the defense of Larkin's Quixmia Washington Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Harvest Christian's Alyssa Iverson defends Larkin's Samantha Wahl Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Harvest Christian's Nygia Pollard dribbles around Larkin's Sarah El Rahmany Monday in Elgin. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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