Larkin no match for Uplift
Larkin's quest to be counted among the state's elite boys basketball teams hit a wall named Uplift in the second round of the 57th Proviso West Holiday Tournament Thursday.
The Titans dominated Larkin from start to finish in a 75-43 victory that was exactly as close as the score makes it appear.
Uplift (7-2), ranked No. 7 in the initial Class 2A Associated Press poll, pressured Larkin (7-3) into mistake after mistake. The Royals lost the turnover battle 16-8 and gave up 18 points off turnovers. They were outrebounded 41-32, shot 29.6 percent from the field (16 of 54) and 18 percent from 3-point range (4 of 22).
"It's just rough. Rough and embarrassing," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "They're talented and all, but it felt like a lot of self-inflicted wounds."
It was the second straight year Uplift defeated Larkin in the second round at Proviso West. The Titans won 90-76 last season. Larkin kept that game competitive until late because 6-foot-10 Jalen Shaw had a big game with 26 points and 5 rebounds. That wasn't the case in Thursday's rematch. Shaw was limited to 8 points and 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in 15 minutes and was in foul trouble throughout. He fouled a driving Toraze Dobbs with the body with 4:06 left in the second quarter, his third personal foul, and sat for the remainder of the half.
Dobbs, who last year scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the win over Larkin, got the better of the matchup this time. The uncommitted 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior led all scorers with 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
"We played them last year and (Shaw) gave me a run, so I just wanted to give my matchup back," Dobbs said.
Uplift held Larkin to 6 points in the first quarter and 9 in the second to take a 32-15 halftime lead. Larkin missed all 11 first-half 3-point attempts.
The Titans further exerted their dominance in the third quarter by outscoring the Royals 35-20 to eliminate any suspense. They made 15 of 21 shots in that period alone and shot 51 percent for the game (30 of 59).
"Coming out in the third quarter and giving up 35 points is outrageous, just outrageous," Carter said. "I'm very, very disappointed. I wish we could practice (today) but we're going to have a tougher game with whoever we play. So we'd better regroup and figure it out by then."
Larkin plays in the consolation bracket today at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's late game between defending Class 2A state champion Orr and Fenwick.
Senior guard Anthony Lynch led the Royals with 16 points but the Titans made him work for it via 4-of-16 shooting from the field and 12 trips to the free-throw line. Pierre Black finished with 9 points.
Kansas-bound junior guard Markese Jacobs had 15 points and 3 assists for Uplift.