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Larkin topples Westminster

Normally when Marlee Kyles and Quixmia Washington start off slow for the Larkin girls basketball team, the Royals can find themselves in a jam early in the contest. So when the duo combined for just 4 points in the first quarter in the final round of the Elgin City Classic against Westminster Christian it could have spelled trouble.

Luckily for the Royals the rest of the team picked up the slack, ripping off an 18-0 run to end the first quarter and start the second as they snapped a 3-game losing streak and won big 52-26 on the Warriors' home court Monday.

Emma Kovachevich hit the first shot game to give Westminster its only lead of the day. It would stay that way until the Royals' (5-15) Sarah El Rahmany, after missing her first three shots, finally got one to go. Then the floodgates opened.

El Rahmany scored 8 points in the first quarter alone and powered a 16-0 run that lasted the entire first quarter. She also hit the opening basket of the second quarter to further extend Larkin's lead before the Warriors could finally counter.

"Sarah had a really nice game, and that's what she is capable of," said Royals' coach Ruben Flores. "We've had a couple of really emotional games, from Geneva to Harvest to Streamwood. The girls were emotional and I told them we just have to keep going at it, and hopefully things turn around for us."

While it was the offense that provided the cushion, it was the defense that kept the lead padded, forcing 15 turnovers in the first half while holding the Warriors (8-10) to just 9 points by halftime. Larkin finished with 17 steals for the game.

"The biggest factor in today's game was (Larkin's) aggressiveness," said Warriors' coach Fred Versluys. "They were much more aggressive than us to start the game. We talked at halftime about coming out and being more aggressive than they were."

The tide did turn slightly in the second half for the Warriors as they outscored Larkin in the third quarter 12-10, but Westminster could not maintain that momentum into the fourth quarter.

Washington would eventually find her rhythm for the Royals, finishing with 11 points, 5 assists and 6 steals with El Rahmany leading the way with 12 points. Vanessa Soto finished with 7 points and Kyles, who also had 5 steals, added 6 points and 8 boards.

Without the area's leading scorer in Maddie Versluys, who is out with an illness and is hoping to be back on Saturday, the Warriors' scoring fell to Kovachevich, finishing with a team-high 11 points. Emily Lamp followed her with 6 points.

Harvest Christian 55, Elgin 18: Kyle Knox matched the Maroons by herself with 18 points as the Lions (17-3) won the Elgin City Classic and are now on a 10-game winning streak.

"Kylee is just an all-around good player," Lions' coach Rich DeTamble said. "She does whatever we ask her to. She did everything for us last year, and this year she has accepted more of a team role to help us get as far as we can."

Paulina Castro, Alyssa Iverson and Amanda Moore each finished with 8 points. The Maroons (2-16), who were without Abby Pierre-Louis due to injury, were led by Tiana Stewart with 7 points.

  Larkin's Marlee Kyles finds it a little crowded under the basket as she passes the ball out amid four Westminster Christian defenders during Monday's game in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Westminster Christian's Emma Kovachevich shoots and scores in first quarter against Larkin during Monday's game in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Megan Chwee tries to cut off Westminster Christian's Jacqueline Kelty as she to drives the baseline during Monday's game in Elgin. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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