Hoffman, Larkin turn away Elgin

Maggie Hoffman certainly would like to play a lot of halves like Thursday's first half.

The Larkin junior scored 12 points and had 4 steals in the opening 16 minutes as the Royals beat crosstown rival Elgin, 42-37, in a turnover-filled Upstate Eight River girls basketball game at Chesbrough Field House.

“I warmed up well,” Hoffman said. “I wanted to beat them so bad that I kind of wanted to take over.”

Hoffman had more field goals (5) than Elgin (4) in the first half and had the same amount of points (12). The Maroons (0-8, 0-2) switched defenses on Hoffman in the second half and held her to just 1 point, helping Elgin chip away at what was a 12-point Larkin lead.

“I think (Hoffman) started to get a little discouraged in the third quarter,” Royals coach Alphonso Lott said. “She lost focus in her game.”

The teams combined for 72 turnovers and 39 missed free throws. Elgin committed 38 turnovers and went 13-for-33, including 6-for-16 in the fourth quarter, from the foul line. The Royals (2-6, 1-1) turned the ball over 34 times and were 12-for-31 from the free-throw line.

“We missed a lot of free throws. That hurt. A lot of turnovers,” Elgin coach Dr. Nick Bumbales said. “Just got into too big of a hole.”

Elgin jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets by Anna Edwards and Briana Hamilton. The Royals responded with a 6-0 run. A Jessica Ramirez basket gave the Maroons the lead again, 8-7. Hoffman scored with 17 seconds left in the first quarter as the Royals took a 9-8 lead. Larkin never trailed again.

Hoffman scored 5 points in the final 30 seconds of the first half to give the Royals a 23-12 advantage. Elgin did not make a field goal in the second quarter and committed 13 turnovers.

The Royals led 37-25 with 5:59 left in the game before the Maroons tried to rally. Elgin got as close as 3, 38-35. Both teams went 6-for-16 from the free-throw line in the fourth.

“It feels good (to beat Elgin) after a few years of not being able to say that,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman finished with 13 points and 5 steals. Kayla Pflueger added 12 points and 9 rebounds.

Hamilton led Elgin with 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Edwards had 9 points and 11 rebounds.