Larkin shows heart in battling Lake Park

Entering Thursday night's Upstate Eight Conference match against the 14-4, 4-0 Lake Park girls basketball team, Larkin could have played with fear.

Instead, the Royals played with heart.

While the outcome went in favor of the Lancers via a 54-41 conclusion, both teams walked away from the Upstate Eight Conference game victorious in their own right.

Trailing 30-22 at the half, Larkin turned up the heat to pull to within 3 points, ending the third quarter down 37-34 after outscoring Lake Park 12-7.

After an exchange of missed opportunities to open the third, Lake Park got on the board first when Carly Willert (6 points) connected from the top of the paint. Junior forward Samantha Arnold followed, going 1-for-2 from the line to make it 33-22 Lake Park.

Larkin (3-13, 1-3) chose its moment.

Alyssa Burns got the 12-4 run started scoring on a drive with 3:55 remaining in the third. Laura Kay followed with a 3-pointer, and then found Burns off of a defensive rebound who drove for two and after being fouled, converted on the free throw for a 3-point-play to make it 33-30.

Willert stopped the bleeding with a Lake Park basket, which Larkin's Sophie Sterricker matched after a dish from Leah Rybakowski. Sterricker (12 points, 8 rebounds) would score again to make it 37-34 entering the fourth quarter.

"I think this was the best game we have played all year," said Larkin coach Amy Silverman. "We came out with a lot of intensity. I liked our defense, and we did a nice job moving the ball offensively."

However, the Lake Park offense overpowered the Royals early.

In particular, the 6-foot-4 Arnold, who scored 10 first-quarter points and 8 second-quarter points before concluding the game with 26 points (8 rebounds, 2 blocks).

"I didn't have any legs in the second half, but offensively I was pleased with my game," said Arnold. "The team helped out a lot. A lot of our girls really stepped it up."

Despite injury and an inconsistent lineup, the Lancers continue to mow down opponents.

"I saw some girls really step it up and keep their composure which I liked," said Lake Park coach Lisa Smith. "We had some girls taking more shots than usual which was nice to see, we moved the ball well and we had a good second half defensively.

"I was pleased with the outcome."

Larkin's Lindsey Casebeer (6 points, 8 rebounds) dominated on the boards early helping the Royals out-rebound Lake Park in the first half 17-to-13 tugging down six before the break, four in the first quarter.

"Lindsey was incredible on the boards," said Silverman. "She really played a great game."

Burns (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) led the Larkin offense.

"What hurt us was a lack of patience in the fourth quarter," said Silverman. "Still, we took a big step tonight."

For Lake Park, Jenna Aloia and Marisa Pasquini each added 7 point efforts.

"Larkin played aggressive," said Smith. "They played with a lot of heart. They came out to win the game. It was nice to see our girls overcome that despite having our personnel out of sorts."