Larkin holds off Harlem

ROCKFORD - Elgin Larkin moved to a perfect 4-0 in the 205 Tip-Off Classic by blitzing Harlem at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third.

The Huskies used a zone defense to slow down star Larkin guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas and it worked for a while. Larkin and Harlem were tied at 25-25 and Wheeler-Thomas, who scored 79 points in the first three games of the Classic, had just six points.

The Royals ended the half on an 8-2 run and then scored the first eight points of the third quarter to take control of the game. While the zone was frustrating Wheeler-Thomas, it was leaving holes for senior guard Fernandez Perez Jr. Perez led Larkin with 24 points, all in the first three quarters.

Trailing by 19 after three quarters, Harlem rallied in the fourth. Alex Wilson and Lathan Lewis combined for 15 fourth-quarter points to help the Huskies cut the lead to six. They couldn't get any closer because Wheeler-Thomas wouldn't miss from the line. The senior guard hit nine of 10 free throws in the fourth to finish with 23 points.

Junior guard Deandre Young led Harlem with 22 points. Wilson had 14 and Lewis 13. The Huskies (1-2) have one game left against East St. Louis on Saturday.

Elgin Larkin also got 16 points from Jakob Blakley.

Elgin Larkin 71, Machesney Park Harlem 63
Elgin Larkin
Player	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Perez Jr.	11	0	2	3	24
Sharpe	0	0	0	0	0
Stubbs	1	0	0	0	2
Wheeler-Thomas	6	0	11	12	23
Blakely	2	4	0	0	16
Wilder	1	0	0	0	2
Leaver	0	0	0	0	0
Maxie	1	0	0	0	2
Ivy	1	0	0	0	2
Totals	23	4	13	15	71
Machesney Park Harlem
	2s	3s	FT	FTA	Pts
Sherbon	0	0	0	0	0
Cline	0	1	0	2	3
Young	5	3	4	6	22
Lewis	4	1	2	3	13
Wilson	4	2	0	0	14
Winters	0	0	0	0	0
Phillips	0	0	0	2	0
Sheldon	0	0	0	0	0
Lundgren	2	0	0	0	4
Dailing	0	2	0	0	6
Total	15	9	6	13	63
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Larkin	15	18	20	18	71
Harlem	15	12	7	29	63