Larkin spreads the wealth in beating Ridgewood

There is no fat to trim from the 12-man Larkin boys basketball roster.

Each of the Royals scored in Tuesday's 67-47 nonconference blowout of visiting Ridgewood, a game Larkin once led by 32 points.

In a demonstration of his roster depth, Larkin coach Deryn Carter inserted little-used reserve Peyton Griffin into the lineup with his team leading by 19 late in the second quarter. Playing alongside the starters, it was Griffin who hit the feel-good shot of the first half. After seeing teammate Keyvon Kyles double teamed in the corner, Griffin got open on the right wing, caught a pass from Kyles and stepped into a 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded to give Larkin (10-7) a commanding 40-18 lead.

"It was 12 deep in that game, so everybody got in," said Griffin, a 6-foot-1 senior forward. "It definitely demonstrates that (the bench can play)."

The basket was Griffin's first this season, his third in two varsity seasons.

"That was awesome. That was a great play," said teammate Christian Negron, who in three quarters of action finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots. "I'm glad he knocked the shot down. We've been waiting for him to get some points for awhile. That was fun."

Tuesday's game wasn't much fun for Ridgewood (9-8). Larkin's pressure defense forced the Rebels to commit 22 turnovers and they shot 16 of 46 from the field (35 percent). The Royals blitzed them with a 7-0 run in the game's first 90 seconds, a barrage that featured an inside buckets from senior forward Marshall Price, a 3-pointer from Kyles and a fast-break bucket by Trell Mardis, assisted from Negron.

Unlike some games in 2016, the Royals never blinked. There were no lulls in the defensive pressure.

"We've refocused," Carter said. "I can feel it in the locker room. I can feel it in practice. We're leaving the gym a better basketball team."

Price enjoyed his best performance in two varsity seasons. The forward finished with a career-best 12 points to go with 6 rebounds .

"I just basically did what my coach told me: play hard the whole time," Price said.

Kashmir Ivy had 8 points in his second consecutive start, 6-foot-8 sophomore Jalen Shaw contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds, Mardis added 6 points and AJ Hunter had 6 points off the bench for Larkin, which hosts rival Elgin on Friday.

Guard Josh Carrasquillo led Ridgewood with 12 points.