Burlington Central's sizzling 3-point shooting sinks Larkin

Larkin enters the season with a pair of four-year starters who are on pace to go over 1,000 points leading a squad that coach Steve Knapp said has the potential to be a 20-win team.

But those Royals had their hands full and then some playing the hosts Tuesday night in the second game of Burlington Central's Thanksgiving tournament.

Avery Andersen swished a 3-pointer 12 seconds into the game, Elana Wells knocked one down moments later and then Wells drove for a layup for an 8-0 run in the first minute and a half.

Knapp called a quick timeout and switched from a zone to man defense. It did little to cool off the hot-shooting Rockets who made 6 of 7 from 3-point range in the opening quarter, 9 of 12 in the first half and 13 of 20 through three quarters of a 70-21 victory.

"I didn't want to keep seeing it happen and they did just as well against the man as zone," Knapp said. "We have a lot to work on."

Wells drained 5 of those 3s while scoring a game-high 25 points and Andersen hit four 3s in scoring 16. Ten players scored.

"When you see a couple go in right off the bat, any good shooter gets a little more confidence," new Rockets coach Collin Kalamatas said. "Having that kind of start was huge."

Burlington Central (2-0) built leads of 26-5 after one quarter, 43-9 at halftime and 63-21 after three before shutting the Royals (0-2) out 7-0 in a fourth quarter played with a running clock.

It was a far cry from Larkin's opener Monday, a narrow 2-point loss to Marengo. It was more of the same for the Rockets who beat Jefferson 74-15 on Monday.

"We didn't come out and play tonight," Knapp said. "We played a little scared. We saw what they did last night to Jefferson, they are a very good basketball team even without (leading scorer Kathryn) Schmidt (sprained ankle). I definitely compare them to the Bartlett, South Elgin type teams. They can shoot the lights out."

The Rockets also impressed on the defensive end forcing 26 turnovers. Larkin's two top senior scorers, Aaliyah Dixon and Brianna Young, were held to 2 and 4 points, respectively.

"We have more confidence when we get those steals to better our offense," Andersen said.

Kalamatas said one of the few things he's tried to change in his first year as coach is a defense that pressures more on the perimeter, which made him pleased to see the team's 20 deflections Tuesday.

"Last year they packed into the paint and we are trying to get out in passing lanes," Kalamatas said. "It's been a lot of fun. They just kind of have that chip on their shoulder with how last year ended. Walking into that there's very little I have to do to motivate them. They are a very talented group, very self-motivated so I just try to stay out of their way and put something in place to play to their strengths and it's working out so far."

Kalamatas was referring to a regional championship loss to Glenbard South in a game Burlington Central led in the fourth quarter against a team that ended up taking second in state.

Rylie DuVal added 8 points for the Rockets who have tournament games remaining against Woodstock North on Thursday, DeKalb on Saturday and Geneva next Tuesday.

"These first couple tournament games are confidence boosters for us going into our new conference," Wells said.