Cooks' clutch buzzer-beater boosts Larkin to win

Senior Brent Cooks gave Larkin an early Christmas gift Thursday.

Cooks helped Larkin snap its 11-game losing streak when he nailed the game-winning shot at the buzzer to defeat Willowbrook, 54-52, in the 36th annual Elgin Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament.

It notched the Royals (3-11) their first win since November 24 and prevented them from placing last at Elgin, while disallowing the Warriors (0-12) their first win of the season.

Willowbrook called for time trailing 52-49 with 7.8 remaining after Larkin's Ian Fluhlur split 2 free throws.

Off the timeout, the Warriors worked into the right corner where an open Tiger Greene sank a game-tying 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left.

Royals coach Deryn Carter believed his team "had the game in hand" prior to Greene's shot, but had to draw up a last-second shot for Cooks.

Along the baseline, Cam Ross found a cutting Fluhlur, who gunned it down court to Cooks.

He took one dribble inside the 3-point line on the right wing and let it fly just before the buzzer went off.

Cooks' eyes exploded once the ball rattled in. He fist pumped once before being mobbed by his teammates, happy to end the 11-game skid.

"It feels good," said Cooks, who finished with 9 points, including a huge 3 midway through the fourth. "But it's not really about the win, it's about us playing together. We played together and got the win."

"It was a great screen by Cam, a great pass by Ian," Carter said.

"You don't make a last-second shot like that because of one guy and it was a team effort. It was good that they responded after giving up a 3. It's good to get (the win); we'll take it however we can get it. But its good to get it in the last game to give us a good taste in our mouth."

Fluhlur led the Royals with 17 points and 5 rebounds, while Blake Grantham added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

"Hopefully we start understanding it," Carter said. "At least we have something positive to build on, so we're happy."

Willowbrook's Cherrik Thrower led the Warriors with 16 points and 9 rebounds.