It wasn’t a perfect game Friday for Jacobs center Cameron Krutwig.
After all, in the third quarter, the 6-foot-9 Krutwig did get called for traveling. And then there was that missing assist.
Although Krutwig ended up one assist short of recording a rare quadruple-double, the Loyola recruit totaled 20 points, 23 rebounds and 11 blocked shots for a 62-39 win over Larkin in the Class 4A Elgin Sectional championship game.
“You’ve got to be hungry this time of year,” said Krutwig, who had nine assists.
Krutwig feasted in the first quarter with 10 points and 10 rebounds. His teammates followed their senior leader’s example as Jacobs (30-1) eliminated Larkin (19-15) for the program’s first sectional title.
The Golden Eagles advanced to 7 p.m. Tuesday matchup in the Hoffman Estates Supersectional at the Sears Centre Arena against Fremd, a 43-42 winner over Conant.
“I just wanted to come out and be hot and get my guys going,” Krutwig said.
Larkin’s Jalen Shaw had been on a postseason roll, but the 6-10 junior had no answer for Krutwig guarding him in a man-to-man defense.
“When Cam plays against size, that’s how he looks,” Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts said. “If there’s a better player playing in the state of Illinois, they might be as good, but I don’t know if there’s anyone better.
“And he continues to just step up in big, big situations.”
Shaw still finished with 10 points,16 rebounds and five blocked shots, but the Royals couldn’t get the inside baskets they used for their run to the sectional final.
“Before the game we talked about the foul game, standing straight up and not swinging,” Krutwig said. “(Shaw) is obviously going to go to the rim.
“And you’ve just got to wall up and make him finish over you, and don’t get any fouls called on you.”
In the first half, Larkin shot only 16 percent (6-for-37) as the Royals struggled to get past Krutwig and angular teammates Nik Balkcom, Mason Materna and Ryan Phillips. The Royals trailed 24-12 at halftime and were outscored 24-12 in the third quarter.
“The thing about us, it’s not just Cam,” Roberts said. “We’ve got length. Ryan, Nik, Mason and (Kameron) Mack have length.
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“Larkin gets in traffic, they not only have to finish over Cam, but they have to finish over all of them.”
When Krutwig wasn’t scoring, it was Phillips who got to the basket. He excelled in transition to score 20 points.
“I was proud as hell of Jalen and the way he battled,” Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. “We would have been OK with Krutwig getting maybe 20 — he can’t get the assists.
“And then we can’t give up 20 to Phillips when he’s getting layup after layup after layup. As far as the game is concerned, that’s probably what got us beat.”
Kashmir Ivy closed his Larkin career with a team-high 15 points.
“I’m super proud of Kashmir,” Carter said. “From where he was last year at this time, let alone three years ago, his game has developed so much.”
Shaw said Larkin could chalk it up as valuable experience toward next season, when all five starters return.
“We’re definitely coming back next year,” Shaw said. “That’s a promise.”
Twitter @genechamberlai2