Neuqua Valley 90, Larkin 42

Some things are just worth fighting for.

For the Neuqua Valley boys basketball team, that something was the Upstate Eight Conference championship.

After losing a heartbreaker to co-leader Waubonsie Valley by a buzzer shot earlier this season, the Wildcats made sure nothing would get in their way Friday -- least of all, Larkin.

Challenging the Royals in their regular-season finale, Neuqua Valley dominated for a 90-42 victory.

What the Wildcats didn't realize at the time was that the win earned them the Upstate Eight title outright because Waubonsie fell to St. Charles East 74-72 in St. Charles.

"We pretty much came in and took care of business," said 6-foot-8 Neuqua center Dan Pawelski who racked up a double-double with 18 points and a dozen rebounds.

"Since that loss to Waubonsie at the buzzer, we've worked really hard. To be at the top of our conference is big. We will gladly take a share of the title, but to win it outright, even better."

Pawelski recorded 8 first-half points for the Wildcats, who jumped to a 6-0 lead and never looked back on their way to a 43-18 halftime lead.

Dwayne Evans recorded 16 points in the first quarters on his way to a 22-point night.

In an effort to contain Neuqua's size, Larkin (1-24, 0-10) opened the game in a zone defense, but after the Wildcats converted several times from the outside the Royals switched to man coverage.

"Neuqua is the best team we've played this year," said Larkin coach Larry Hight. "We didn't have an answer for them. This was a game where size mattered. We tried every defense. There was nothing we could do."

Following back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Steve Waeghe and a pair from Brad Keeler, who came off the bench to add 11 points, Larkin answered with its biggest run of the night -- an 11-0 push over the final two minutes of the game.

"I'm most pleased that we got everyone in the game, and that the team showed support for each of our guys," said Neuqua coach Todd Sutton. "This win helped us get a piece of the conference title.

"I want to play a lot more games."

Starter Derek Raridon was another Wildcat to post big numbers offensively, finishing with 12 points.

"Their depth got to us," Hight said. "Still, everybody played hard for us. Everybody was trying until the end."

Cam Kinley was the high-scorer for Larkin with 7 points. Michael Falese, Jeff Saurbaugh and Justin Kalusa each added 5 points.

"We simply outmatched Larkin," Pawelski said. "They had some good players, but we were bigger and quicker and we took advantage."