Elgin knocks off Larkin to snap UEC River skid

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.