Bartlett escaped from Larkin’s gym with a hard-fought 55-53 win Friday night in Upstate Eight action.

First it was a nailbiter. Then it was a blowout. Then it was a nailbiter again.

Up until about a week ago, Darnell Wilder had been starting for the Larkin boys basketball team.

Harvest Christian Academy might be one of the smallest high schools in the area with an enrollment of 165 (according to the IHSA).

The Wheaton Warrenville South basketball machine chugged into Batavia Saturday for the second varsity contest of the Jim and Sylvia Roberts Night of Hoops.

Trailing Larkin by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, South Elgin’s basketball team never stopped believing. That strong mindset paid off, as the Storm rallied for a 58-56 Upstate Eight Conference victory over the Royals on Thursday night in South Elgin.

Hard-nosed defense has been a common staple of Larkin’s basketball program in recent years.

After a last-second win at Lyons Township Tuesday night that placed his Glenbard West unit within a half a game of the Lions in the West Suburban Silver, Hilltoppers coach Jason Opoka wasn’t complaining.

After sitting out the early portion of the season while recovering from a summer injury, Larkin junior guard Jakob Blakley made a triumphant return to the basketball court during last month’s Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs.

In a game of runs, Larkin made the last one. Tied with Bartlett at 55, the Royals reeled off 9 straight points to go up 64-55, and went on to win by that margin, 69-60, Friday night.

Crystal Lake South came out so hard and fast that it pretty much decided the outcome against Larkin in the first 3:08.

If you weren’t at St. Charles East’s 63rd annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament, you missed a chance to look into the future of high school basketball.

Larkin boys basketball (2-3) escaped Glenbard East (0-5) with a 70-69 Upstate Eight victory on Thursday night.

Here’s a look at what to expect this winter for the Upstate Eight Conference boys basketball teams.