Larkin has enough to top Cary-Grove

A fast start and a healthy dose of Quantice Hunter were all Larkin needed.

Hunter scored 23 points as Larkin jumped out to a 19-6 lead and held off Cary-Grove, 56-48, in the Hoops for Healing boys basketball tournament at Woodstock High School Wednesday night.

The Trojans made numerous mini-runs to get close, but could never pull even or go ahead. The Royals always found an answer.

Cary-Grove got as close as 49-44 on a 3-pointer by Zach Taylor, but Larkin answered with 3 free throws by Derrick Streety. A bucket by Ben Bradshaw made it 52-46, but the Royals (2-0) closed it out at the free throw line.

“We got a little undisciplined defensively, but our guys handled some adversity,” said Larkin coach Deryn Carter. “They took it on the chin, but came back and finished it out.”

Quentin Ruff added 12 points and Streety finished with 11 for the Royals. Blake Grantham added 6 points and 8 rebounds for Larkin.

Grantham scored 5 points early as Larkin took a 10-2 lead in the first 3 minutes.

“We've just got to get better at starting games,” said Taylor. “If we had started out well, we would have had it.”

Ryan Arquette led the Trojans with 14 points. Taylor finished with 13. Bradshaw had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Trojans.

Hunter had 14 points by halftime, either driving for layups or pulling up for 3-pointers, and Cary-Grove never found an answer. Ruff provided a quick lift off the bench, hitting a jumper and a 3-pointer in the first quarter.

The Royals appeared safe heading into halftime, with a 28-12 lead late in the second quarter. However, the Trojans finished the half on a 7-0 run, capped off by Arquette's buzzer-beating 3-pointer.