Glenbrook S. topples Larkin
Glenbrook South's boys basketball team wanted a quick start to what coach Scott Nemecek referred to as "The Breakfast Club Special".
Larkin did get a quick start in the opening game of the 34th Annual Pepsi/Daily Herald Elgin Holiday Tournament, but could not sustain a 12-5 first-quarter lead.
The Titans (6-4) eventually ran away with a 63-47 victory over the Royals (4-6) Monday morning in the tournament opener.
Glenbrook South used 8 points from Chris Bauer to go on an 18-6 second-quarter run.
"They didn't keep their eye on me," said Bauer, who shot 4 of 6 in the second quarter and scored 14 points in the game. "We try to get the ball inside as much as we can."
Larkin struggled from both the inside and outside shooting just 31 percent (18 of 57) from the floor. The Royals went 9 of 37 (24.3 percent) in the second half after 6 different players scored in the first quarter.
"The shots weren't falling," said Larkin guard Ramadon Adili, who finished with 6 points and 2 assists off the bench. "It was brick after brick. It was a trend, once one person started missing, everyone started missing."
Glenbrook South switched its trend as the second half started. Notre Dame-bound center Jack Cooley played sparingly in the first half, but exploded to score all 11 of his points in the third quarter. Cooley's efforts allowed the Titans to build a 51-27 lead by the end of the third period. The senior shot 3 of 4 from the floor as Glenbrook South went a combined 9 of 13 from the floor, including making 9 of its first 10 shots.
"We had a good start, and it should have been even better," Larkin coach Larry Hight said. "That's the time to take a team like that. When they came outside and hit those 3-pointers, we could never catch up."
Jimmy Snyder and Ryan Hopkins each nailed long-range shots as Larkin was outscored 18-9 in the third quarter.
The Royals did rebound to score 20 points in the fourth, with Terell John finishing with 11 of his game-high 19 points in the final 8 minutes. John went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final period after missing his first 5 attempts in the game.