Royals come out firing, win in Carter's debut

BELVIDERE -- If the debut of new Larkin basketball coach Deryn Carter had lasted one half, it could have been called a smashing success.

The Royals went in at halftime leading Belvidere in the Hoops for Healing Tournament 35-19.

"We talked to them about two halves and coming out hard in the third quarter but someone didn't get the memo," Carter said.

Nevertheless, the Royals hung on down the stretch thanks to 6-foot senior center Garrett McDaniel's post presence and the foul shooting of Drew Simonini for a 70-60 victory.

"We were happy with the effort," said Carter, a former Royals player. "It was all the kids tonight, a great first effort."

The Royals led by as much as 17 in the first half behind a 3-point shooting barrage from Ramadan Adili, who had four first-half treys and a team-high 16 points on the night.

"Adili it seemed was sinking everything -- he made it seem easier than it was," Carter said. "He had a nice night, but then he got into foul trouble."

In the second half the Bucs closed in by junking their ineffective zone and zone press and going man-to-man in the third quarter. Larkin started missing shots and the lead dwindled to as little as three early in the fourth quarter at 49-46.

However, the Royals got a bucket and key steal and basket from freshman Carlito Singleton (11 points) to expand a 50-46 lead to 54-46.

Then McDaniel's ability to snake between taller defenders to the bucket put the Royals comfortably ahead.

"Someone told me Garrett wanted the ball so I said, 'OK, let's get him the ball,' " Carter said. "He started taking it to the hole. What an effort."

McDaniel scored all nine of Larkin's points from the 4:10 mark of the fourth quarter to the 1:23 mark and kept them safely ahead 65-56. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in the sloppy, foul-plagued (52 total fouls) game.

Simonini then took over at that point by repeatedly getting the ball, getting fouled by Belvidere in desperation and making free throws. He finished with 15 points, including 5 of 6 at the line in the final quarter.

"We've got three or four good shooting guards who can handle the ball and I'd feel good with any one of them handling it then," Carter said. "Tonight it was Drew."

Larkin had made 6 of 10 first-half 3-point shots, including 4 of 6 by Adili in building its lead. In the second half, the Royals cooled off to 2 of 8 from the 3-point arc.

Belvidere had 14 points from Cameron Hunter but was hurt down the stretch when post player Jake Vincent, who sparked the comeback with nine points and eight rebounds, fouled out.

"It's just one game," Carter said. "We're trying to build a program. It's a good start for us."

LARKIN 70, BELVIDERE 60