Ivy's big night helps Larkin past Streamwood
With mounting injuries this season for the Larkin boys basketball team Kashmir Ivy has been asked to take on a more prominent scoring role and the senior guard has been up to the challenge.
Ivy scored a game-high 26 points on Tuesday night to lead the Royals (13-11, 4-5) past visiting Streamwood 70-57 in Upstate Eight River Division action.
"He is really playing at a high level right now," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "He has done everything we could hope for and more. His attention to detail has really been a big difference. He is always ready to play and bring his best game."
Ivy got off to a shaky start against the Sabres (7-19, 0-9), missing his first 4 shots and going scoreless in the first quarter. He finally started to get heated up in the second quarter with a pair of baskets. In the second half he really caught fire with 10 points in the third quarter and 11 more in the fourth.
"When I miss some shots I know it's not the end of the world," Ivy said. "Sometimes you just have to try a different approach. I missed some jump shots early on, so I decided to start driving to the basket. Once I made a few I got a little more comfortable with my game and was able to go back and start hitting some jumpers again."
Ivy shot 9 of 13 from the field in the second half.
"My role has changed during the year," Ivy said. "But I'm OK with that. As the only senior starter on the team I know I need to step up and do whatever I have to do to help the team."
Anthony Lynch provided the offensive punch in the first half with 11 points as the Royals built a 29-18 lead. Ivy's big second half didn't allow the Sabres to get any closer than 7 points.
"Anthony and I have a good connection going," Ivy said. "We both share the wealth and try to make each other better."
Ivy and Lynch had to shoulder even more of the weight against the Sabres with center Jalen Shaw not available for the game.
"I thought the team responded real well to some adversity," Carter said. "We were missing a key player and had a couple others in foul trouble in the first half and they just didn't let it effect them.'
The Sabres' loss came despite impressive games from Keenan Cole and Phil Cruz, who both had 17 points. The 6-foot-5 sophomore Cole also had 12 rebounds and 5 blocks. Cruz grabbed 9 rebounds.
"Keenan has only been playing basketball for a couple of years," Streamwood coach Paul Kowalyszyn said. "He has tremendous potential and is just beginning to tap into it. He can really get up and down the floor for a big man. I also thought Phil did a really good job tonight working in the post."
The Sabres had a great third quarter on offense when they scored 22 points and shot 11 of 12 from the field. However, they were plagued by 21 turnovers in the game.