advertisement

Temcio, Glenbard South hold off Larkin

Aryton Temcio wasn't getting many open looks for Glenbard South in its Upstate Eight Conference boys basketball game at Larkin on Thursday night.

He made the most of the one he got late though.

Temcio swished a corner 3-pointer with 1:33 left and the Raiders left Elgin with a 60-54 victory.

"They are so quick so it was one of those nights where they were all over us," Temcio said. "When I saw that (opening), I knew I had to make that one. I was glad to get that one."

Glenbard South (2-4, 2-3) seized control of the game early, leading by as much as 20-6 early in the second quarter before Larkin fought its way back.

"I don't think we played with the right amount of energy and urgency," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "I think Glenbard South was more prepared than we were and this year every night is like a one-game season. There's no time for build up."

Larkin (4-2, 4-1) used a 9-0 run, highlighted by 3-pointers by Fernando Perez and D.J. Jones to close the gap to 20-19 and set the tone for what would prove to be a back-and-forth contest in the second half.

Perez and Damari Wheeler-Thomas led the Royals with 13 points each while Jones added 12 and Tracy Boley chipped in with 11 more.

The Royals took their first lead of the game at 34-32 on a nifty baseline drive from Damari Wheeler-Thomas with 2:45 left in the third quarter. The teams would be deadlocked three more times and see the lead change hands a dozen times before the Raiders took the lead for good on Temcio's easy lay-in with 1:58 left in the game.

It was the result of patience and good ball movement by the Raiders, something they used to their advantage at times, while at others Larkin was able to get in the way or cause a turnover.

"We just had to run through our offense really well and work through everything," said Cade Hardtke, who led all scorers with 19 points for the Raiders. "Going a couple of rotations and getting a shot wasn't enough. We really had to work for our rotations and pass it around four or five times and look to get the open shot and in the end it played out into our hands."

Hardtke made four consecutive free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the victory.

"(Victories) have been hard to come by so it was a good effort and they played hard," Raiders coach Wade Hardtke said. "(Larkin's) quick and we made some adjustments and I'm just glad to come away with a victory. Like I said, they've been hard to come by."

Temcio finished with 12 points and all but two came in the second half. He also led the Raiders with nine rebounds. Yazan Blan added 8 points and took a pair of charges for the Raiders.

  Glenbard South's Armon Yarbrough shoots over Larkin's Dontrell Maxie and Jamarion Stubbs, right, in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Damari Wheeler-Thomas stretches to tap the ball away from Glenbard South's Cade Hardtke in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Glenbard South's Aryton Temcio fouls Larkin's Damari Wheeler-Thomas in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Glenbard South's Armon Yarbrough runs into Larkin's Dajauhn Jones in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Damari Wheeler-Thomas gets a shot past Glenbard South's Cade Hardtke in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Glenbard South's D'Manuel Payton reaches in to the ball as Larkin's Dearrius Clardy drives to the basket in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Larkin's Trace Boley is fouled by Glenbard South's Aryton Temcio in a boys basketball game in Elgin Thursday night, February 25, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.