Geneva's pressure rattles Larkin

The Geneva boys basketball team has caused havoc most of the season with its half-court trapping defense.

The pressure certainly got to Larkin on Saturday.

The Vikings' defense had five steals during a 15-0 second-quarter run that was the difference in Geneva's 77-52 victory over the Royals in Elgin.

"Our energy level increased in the second 8 minutes," Vikings coach Tim Pease said. "That's what we needed to sustain."

Larkin (1-23) led 21-17 with 6:22 remaining in the second quarter after a Terell John free throw. On the Royals' next possession, Geneva's Max Cary had a steal and converted it into a layup. Another steal led to a Alex Turnowchyk layup to cap a 15-0 run that gave the Vikings (15-11) a 32-21 lead with 1:50 remaining in the first half. During the run, Geneva had five steals that led to four easy layups and 9 points.

"The half-court trap is effective if you are very much taller than the guard," Royals coach Larry Hight said. "When you have two trees around you, it's hard to get it out of there."

The Royals committed seven turnovers, six coming on Geneva steals, in the second quarter as they saw what was a 5-point lead with a minute left in the first quarter turn into a 38-27 halftime deficit.

Cary, a 6-foot-2 senior, had 4 steals and Chris Jordan, a 6-5 senior, had 3 steals in the first half. The Royals had only three players dressed over 6-feet tall.

"Their running game got us," Hight said. "We tied them in the first quarter and they got a (15-0) run on the running game. We didn't have an answer for it."

Larkin cut the deficit to 38-29, when John scored to open the second half. After a Cary 3-pointer, the Vikings' lead never fell below 11 the rest of the way.

The Royals were within 58-47, with 5:50 left in the game, but Jordan sparked a 13-0 run. Jordan scored 8 points during the run and finished with a game-high 21 points. He added 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

Cary had 14 points, five steals and four rebounds. Turnowchyk added 13 points, four rebounds and two steals. Jeremy D'Amico contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.

"(Balance scoring) is the way we have to play," Pease said. "We have to share the ball in transition. We're not a team where one guy is going to carry us."

John's 13 points led the Royals. Cam Kinley had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks.