Larkin notches regional upset over Saints
DeKALB - All St. Charles East's basketball team wanted was another shot at beating cross-town rival St. Charles North.
Larkin had other plans.
After outscoring St. Charles East (9-18) 16-6 in the fourth quarter to force overtime, the Royals (8-19) dug in defensively and tallied all 5 of their points at the free-throw line during the 4-minute extra session during Monday night's 57-54 victory in the opening round of the Class 4A boys basketball regional.
"It's a great win for Larkin," said Royals coach Larry Hight, who watched his team post a victory for just the second time in its last 14 games. "We avenged a 13-point loss (to St. Charles East on Jan. 30) at home but we got them on a neutral court.
"I couldn't be more proud of these kids. These guys believe they can win this thing (regional)."
With the win, Larkin advances to Tuesday's regional semifinals against top-seeded St. Charles North (19-8). The North Stars handed the Royals a 69-58 defeat Jan. 22 in St. Charles .
Trailing by as many as 12 points late in the third quarter, the Royals were still faced with a 10-point deficit at 46-36 heading into the final period.
Before the fourth quarter began, Hight expressed his frustrations during a team huddle.
"That was the Larry Hight of old," said Hight. "When I saw the soft play in that stretch, it just threw me because we've been practicing all weekend on how physical we have to be."
The passionate speech certainly inspired senior guard Jeff Saurbaugh, who scored 9 of his team-leading 19 points in the fourth quarter.
"That caught everyone's attention," said Saurbaugh. "Everyone started bickering and arguing but we came together and we got this one."
St. Charles East still led 48-41 with 4:28 left in regulation and a pair of free throws by Zach Scott gave the Saints a 52-48 advantage with 1:03 left.
But Saurbaugh's layup cut the Saints' lead to 52-50 with 40 seconds remaining, and 2 free throws by Terell John (12 points) with 15 seconds left forced overtime with the game tied at 52.
Two free throws from Ryan Scott quickly put the Saints on top 54-52 in the extra session before the Royals took a 55-54 lead - their first since the opening quarter - on a pair of Garrett McDaniels foul shots with 50 seconds left in overtime.
A potential game-tying 3-ponter caromed off the back rim at the buzzer for the Saints, who battled foul trouble throughout the evening.
Four STC East players fouled out, including 6-7 senior center Kevin Senechalle, who played just 5 minutes in the second half and finished with 3 points.
"It stinks to see his last game - score 3 points and not really play," said Saints coach Brian Clodi. "You hate to lose like that. We just came up a little short."
Senechalle burned the Royals for 27 points and 11 rebounds in the teams' first meeting a little more than a month ago.
"We played a box-and-one and we've never done it before," said Hight. "We wanted to take him out of the game."