Larkin downs Elgin for 3rd time this season

Getting off to a good start on both end of the floor is usually key to winning any basketball game.

Larkin's girls did that at Chesbrough Field House Friday night and cruised to a 53-23 Upstate Eight Conference River Division win over city rival Elgin.

Sophomore Marlee Kyles scored 17 points, 8 of them in the first quarter, and senior Quixmia Washington added 15 for the Royals, who beat Elgin for the third time this season.

But Larkin coach Ruben Flores was quick to talk about his team's defense over the offense.

"Offensively Marlee set the tone but we've been working on our defense the last couple of weeks and it showed up tonight," Flores said. "I thought Quxmia Washington played the point on defense the way we wanted her to. She did a great job tonight."

Larkin's defense helped Elgin to 34 turnovers. The Royals had 19 steals, led by 7 from Kyles and 5 from Washington, and turned 12 of them into points.

"Everyday in practice coach preaches defense," said Kyles, who also had 5 assists. "The offense will come but he preaches defense and it's helped us so much."

Kyles' first quarter staked Larkin (6-16, 2-6) to a 16-8 lead after the first 8 minutes, which the Royals turned into a 25-14 advantage at halftime before blowing the game open with n 18-3 third quarter. Larkin's biggest lead was the final score.

"When I get going my team gets going," said Kyles, who was still showing the effects of an illness that kept her out of Tuesday's nonconference loss to Addison Trail. "When we all come together, it clicks."

The Royals had a decent night shooting, going 21-for-48 (43.8 percent) and only turned the ball over 7 times in the first half. Junior Megan Chwee added 6 points and junior Sarah El Rhamany had 5 points and 3 steals for the winners.

"There's still a lot we have to work on," said Flores. "Elgin's always such an emotional game. You never know what's going to happen. We're pleased with the outcome. The girls really wanted the W tonight."

The Maroons (3-17, 0-8) struggled shooting, making just 8 of their 36 field goal attempts for 22.2 percent. They did outrebound the Royals 36-29, led by 8 from freshman Kylie Graves and 6 from senior Destiny West. Senior Abby Pierre-Louis led the Elgin scoring with 6 points.

"Before the game I put 30 on the board. We needed to have less than 30 turnovers and get to the free throw line 30 times. That was our recipe for success," said Elgin coach Dr. Nick Bumbales. "We had too many unforced turnovers, we have to play better defense and we gave up too many second chance baskets. No matter who you play you can't give a team 25-30 extra possessions."