Larkin falls to top Florida team

ROCKFORD - The Larkin boys basketball team dropped its season opener at the Rockford Tip-Off Classic Tuesday night, but it didn't really feel like a loss to the Royals, who were upbeat afterward.

Playing without injured veteran forward Christian Negron, who is out for the season with a knee injury, the Royals proved to themselves and others they will nonetheless be a highly competitive team despite the 80-74 loss to McArthur High of Hollywood, Fla. in a game played at Rockford East.

Larkin battled toe-to-toe with McArthur - a veteran, athletic squad that last season reached a Class 7A semifinal in Florida's eight-class system - until midway through the fourth quarter. The Royals held their own in a fast-paced game, though they started four juniors and one senior against an all-senior starting lineup.

"We played with a high motor, we all played together and we played with heart - that's what makes this team special," said junior guard Anthony Lynch, a South Elgin transfer who scored 15 points in his Larkin debut. "We play hard, we play smart and we play tough."

Larkin drew within 62-59 of McArthur with 6:01 left in the fourth quarter when sophomore guard Pierre Black sank his fourth 3-pointer of the game. However, the Mustangs finally pulled away with a 15-6 run over a 2:34 span, keyed by a 3-pointer from point guard Sherigame Saintil that stretched the lead to 7.

It looked early on as if McArthur was going to run away and hide after a 10-0 run staked it to a 19-9 lead, but the Royals responded with an 8-0 run to close the first quarter. The Larkin surge was fueled by 2 free throws from junior forward Jalen Shaw, a 3-pointer from Black and a steal by junior guard Kindrel Morris that he converted to a transition layup.

"I'm impressed," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said of his team's performance. "I'm happy with our guys. I told them I'm not sure there could be a different result in a loss that I'd be any more proud of. We competed. "

"We were down 19-9 and on the ropes against a good team that's got a knockout blow and we fought back. A lot of the reason we lost the game are things we can control. We just have to get better."

Shaw finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Larkin in both categories. Morris added 11 points, 4 assists and 3 steals and Black finished with 14 points. Black shot 4 of 8 from 3-point range.

Two key moments early in the game showed Larkin wasn't going to back down. Midway through the first quarter, 6-7 McArthur forward Noah Brown tried to dunk the ball in the lane, but the 6-10 Shaw stuffed the attempt to the delight of his cheering teammates.

"When I got that block I had the mentality that we had to win the game no matter what," Shaw said. "You've got to play hard with effort, energy and enthusiasm."

Later in the first half, Morris, listed at 5-foot-8, fearlessly drove the lane right at 6-6 senior Ralph Bissainthe. Using an up-and-under move, Morris scored the basket and drew the foul.

"If you take it to them, they second guess themselves, like 'Maybe he's not as scared as I thought he was,'" Morris said.

Bissainthe, a transfer from North Miami High School, led the Mustangs with 22 points.