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Larkin explodes in 3rd quarter to rout Elgin

The Larkin boys basketball players like to call their west-side gym "the Palace," according to junior guard Kashmir Ivy.

They found out Friday just how loud the Royal residence can get during a third-quarter explosion that led to an 89-61 victory over crosstown rival Elgin.

Larkin (11-7, 4-2) led 37-27 at halftime and still held a somewhat modest 41-32 lead when Ivy sank a 3-pointer to open a 19-0 run.

The Royals would go on to force a flurry of steals that fueled a razzle-dazzle transition game highlighted by a pair of Christian Negron alley-oop dunks that sent their fans into delirium. They closed the third quarter on a 25-4 spree and never looked back.

"That third quarter was something special," said Negron, who scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the period. "We were locking down on defense, getting a ton of steals and that's what led to the fast breaks."

Elgin (14-7, 3-4) simply could not stop Larkin's momentum. It became a feeding frenzy, egged on by half the near-capacity crowd estimated at 2,500. Still, the Maroons, winners of 10 of their previous 12, should have found a way to stem the damage, coach Mike Sitter said.

"If you care about it and you're passionate about it, you can stop that," Sitter said of Larkin's push. "We have two senior leaders on the team. When things go bad, one tries to play one-on-five and the other stops playing altogether because he has no heart. So that's how you react."

"We were feeling down and feeling sorry for ourselves and we couldn't do anything about it," said Elgin's Courtese Cooper, who finished with 8 points and 12 rebounds. "It was like all the energy was pointed their way."

The victory is the 10th straight for the Royals against the Maroons, a record for Larkin in the series. Elgin still holds a 79-50 edge all-time.

"Like I've said before, Elgin-Larkin and the regionals, those are the only games that matter if you win or lose," said Larkin coach Deryn Carter, a 1998 Larkin graduate. "We've been on the wining side quite a few times lately, but we've got to continue to work. We might see them in the regional. They weren't at their best today."

Things went so well for the Royals in the second half that an errant alley-oop pass from Ivy intended for Negron instead bounced off the backboard and through the net for a 3-pointer.

The bank shot put Larkin ahead by 33 early in the fourth quarter. Ivy simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders in the direction of his bench.

"You know you're in the Palace when you're making shots off the backboard like that," said Ivy, who finished with 12 points.

AJ Hunter added 13 points off the bench and 6-foot-8 sophomore Jalen Shaw had 12 points for the Royals.

Reggie Cole led the Maroons with 18 points, Douglas scored 12 and Lavion Baldwin contributed 10.

Girls basketball

Elgin 51, Larkin 47: The Elgin girls basketball players weren't about to let their chance to register a breakthrough victory slip through their fingers Friday.

After seeing their 14-point lead sliced to a point late in an Upstate Eight River game at Larkin, the Maroons buckled down defensively and escaped with a 51-47 win.

Elgin led 47-46 with 29 seconds left, but Larkin had possession. However, when the Larkin ballhandler dribbled over midcourt, she was met by a double team of Elgin defenders Raechel Untalan and Tianna Stewart.

Stewart stole the ball, sped the other way, hit the layup and drew a foul. Her ensuing free throw gave the Maroons a 50-46 lead with 19.2 seconds left, but Elgin wasn't through. The Maroons forced another turnover seconds later to all but ice it.

The victory for Elgin (3-18, 1-7) snapped an 8 game-losing streak against crosstown rival Larkin (8-15, 2-6) and a 27-game winless streak in the UEC River overall. Elgin's last conference win came against Larkin in overtime on Dec. 20, 2013.

"I was in tears at the end. I couldn't believe it," said Elgin senior guard Lakiya Harvey, who scored 12 points. "We've really been working for it. Today our hard work paid off."

The Royals played without leading scorer Marlee Kyles for the second straight game due to "personal reasons," Larkin coach Steve Knapp said. Complicating matters, second-leading scorer Shawniece Colen Douglas left the game early in the third quarter with an injured ankle.

"Not having Shawniece and not having Marleee, our two leading scorers, and coming back from down 14? It's really impressive," Knapp said. "I can't hang my head and I hope the girls won't either."

Megan Chwee led the Royals with 14 points.

Stewart finished with 13 points and Unatlan added 11 for the Maroons.

- Jerry Fitzpatrick

  Larkin forward Christian Negron (11) throws down a dunk Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Elgin wing Timothy Wolf (4) puts some pressure on Larkin guard Keyvon Kyles (3) Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Larkin guard Keion Adams (2) goes up and over Elgin wing Reggie Cole (2) Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Elgin wing Desmond Douglas (11) looks to pass to his teammate Courtese Cooper (25) as Larkin forward Christian Negron (11) and Larkin forward Jalen Shaw (30) put on some pressure Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Larkin guard A J Hunter (1) comes up with the ball and a pass Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Elgin wing Desmond Douglas (11) goes to the hoop Friday during Elgin at Larkin boys basketball in Elgin. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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