Larkin holds off furious Harlem comeback

Elgin Larkin, appearing in its eighth straight Tip-off Classic, held off a furious Harlem rally in the fourth quarter of the tournament’s opening game for a 64-60 victory.

Harlem trailed 51-33 entering the final eight minutes but closed the margin with five 3-point baskets and taking advantage of several Larkin turnovers.

The Huskies cut the deficit single digits on Mason Walsh’s three-pointer at 56-48. Caden Cline made one of two free throws and Boris Jancic dropped in a two-pointer to make it 56-51 with 2:15 to play.

With the score 59-54, Harlem missed an opportunity for a further cut with a turnover and then missed two shots and a free throw at the 26-second mark.

Walsh scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 16. Nate Dunbar, with 11 in the rally, had 13 for the Huskies. Bo Beehler led Harlem with 20.

Armani Ivy led Larkin with 27 points. Darnell Wilder added 18 for the Royals, including the game-clinching free throw with 3.6 seconds to play.

BOXSCORE

Elgin Larkin 64, Machesney Park Harlem 60

Harlem .....  9 12 12 27 - 60
Larkin ...... 14 24 13 13 - 64

HARLEM - Beehler 6 4-6 20, Cline 3 1-3 7, Koerner 2 0-1 5, Dunbar 1 0-0 3, Winters 0 2-5 2, Walsh 4 6-7 16, Phillips 1 1-2 3. Totals 19 14-24 60.
LARKIN - Rodgers-Sowers 3 1-1 7, Colen-York 3 3-3 9, Wilder 4 7-12 18, Ivy 9 5-7 27, Casebeer 1 1-1 3. Totals 20 17-24 64.
3-pointers: Harlem 8 (Beehler 4, Walsh 2, Koerner, Dunbar); Larkin 7 (Ivy 4, Wilder 3).