Larkin's depth too much for Streamwood

The Larkin boys basketball team showed off its depth Friday night.

Quentin Ruff, Blake Grantham and Kendale McCullum combined to score 38 points off the bench to help the Royals rout host Streamwood, 69-49, in Upstate Eight Conference River Division action.

"We have a lot people off the bench that can make plays," said Ruff, a junior who hit 4 3-pointers. "We work hard in practice to get better. We just bring energy off the bench."

The Larkin bench scored 47 points and most of them did not come in garbage time. Ruff scored all 14 of his points, Grantham had 10 of his 12 and McCullum had 8 of his 12 in the first three quarters.

"Guys earning minutes in practice came in and really did some things," Royals coach Deryn Carter said. "It was good it happened that way."

Streamwood (4-16, 1-7) started well, grabbing a 8-2 lead. But just like last week, a 24-point loss at Larkin, the Sabres couldn't continue their good play beyond the first quarter. Larkin (12-7, 4-4) forced 10 turnovers in the second quarter. A 10-2 run to open the quarter gave the Royals a 24-14 lead. They led 30-22 at halftime.

"We're not tough enough physically and mentally when we have to be," Sabres coach Tim Jones said. "We can't sustain it (the good play). When someone needs to take a break and put someone else in, we don't get the type of execution that we need to have."

The Royals extended the lead to 18, 52-34, at the end of the third quarter and led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Larkin-Guilfoyle led the Sabres with 13 points. Zach Harris and Joel Lightbourne each added 7 points. Harris also grabbed 7 rebounds.

Derrick Streety led the Larkin starters with 8 points. McCullum added a team-high 4 rebounds.

"I don't mind (coming off the bench)," said Grantham, a former starter for the Royals. "However I can help my team, I'll do."