Pierre Black’s game for Larkin has expanded well beyond spotting up to shoot 3-pointers.
It’s making a lineup switch by Larkin coach Deryn Carter pay off on two ends.
Black scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half Friday as host Larkin produced its best overall defensive effort of the season for a 59-38 Upstate Eight River win over Batavia.
“After the Christmas tournament, I think I’ve added to my game,” Black said. “I dribble more now. If I dribble more, that gives me more options than just shooting 3s, and I’m able to score from other places.”
Black, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, shot 6-for-6 in the second half. His 10-point burst in the fourth quarter ignited a decisive 11-0 run.
Larkin (14-13, 5-5) avenged an earlier loss to Batavia (14-14, 4-7) after leading just 36-31 with 6:27 remaining.
“The best compliment to Pierre is, one, you forget he’s a sophomore,” Carter said. “So that lets you know his game is maturing. He’s becoming more than just a jump shooter. He’s on the ground for loose balls and rebounding.
“And our guys trust him to shoot the ball whenever he’s open. He’s got a bright future. He’s got a high ceiling.”
Black became a starter when Carter put senior starter Kashmir Ivy in the sixth-man role. Ivy produced instant offense off the bench, and now Black is also flourishing as the starter.
Black followed a 3-pointer by Cy Kerber with his own 3-pointer to start the 11-0 run. He capped the stretch on a layup off the fast break with 2:50 left for a 47-31 lead.
Larkin scored on three fast-breaks during the run.
“We got some transition points after stops,” Carter said. “I kind of thought it was a matter of time until we turned defense into some offense.”
Larkin’s defense made it all possible, holding Batavia’s starters to 10 points in the second half. The Bulldogs’ 38 points were the fewest allowed by the Royals this season.
“These past few days, we’ve been working all the time on defense,” Black said. “This past Tuesday, that’s when coach Carter said he’s really going to step us up on the defensive end with more defensive drills and less offense.”
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Larkin forced 17 turnovers. In the second half, Larkin outrebounded Batavia 15-7.
“Coach told us at halftime that we’re doing everything well, but we have to start getting those 50-50 balls because those are a lot more important than a lot of things out there,” Ivy said.
Black and Anthony Lynch had six points each in the third quarter when Larkin outscored Batavia 15-8 for a 35-27 lead. Lynch finished with 10 points and six assists, while Jalen Shaw had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Colin Cheaney led Batavia with 18 points but was held to two in the fourth quarter.
“They made his shots tougher,” Batavia coach Jim Nazos said. “We had a hard time getting him the ball.”
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