There are games where you need your best player to step forward even more than normal.

One of those times came Friday night for Cary-Grove's boys' basketball team and senior point guard Nick Richter.

Richter scored 15 of Cary's 23 first-half points and finished the game with 23 points as the Trojans built up an 18-point lead and hung on for a 51-44 win over Larkin at the Hoops for Healing Tournament at Woodstock North.

Cary (2-1) jumped out again early, taking a 23-19 lead into halftime on the shoulders of Richter's big first half.

Richter said that the fact the game was being played at a quick level got him numerous scoring chances. "That was just getting fast break easy points," Richter said. "We were pushing the ball down the floor and teammates got me open. It was a great team win today."

While the first half featured more fouls and free-throws combined (48) than points in the half, Cary made sure the point total would go up in the second half, outscoring the Royals 16-2 in the third quarter to take a 39-21 lead into the final quarter.

Jon Guay scored all ten points of his points in the quarter and said that it was a quarter that the team needed. "Our defense made them make bad decisions and we got some easy baskets," Guay said. "That third quarter felt really good and brought the whole team up."

Things began to unravel for Cary as the fourth quarter started as Larkin was able to get the Cary lead down to just six points during the fourth quarter but Richter made five of six free throws in the final quarter to preserve the win.

Guay added that things are starting to get a bit nervous. "Thankfully, Nick made his free throws which really helped us out there," Guay said.

Cary coach Ralph Schuetzle said that during the third quarter run, it was nothing different game plan wise than the first half.

"They (Larkin) put themselves in some situations where we were able to trap, rotate and get some steals," Schuetzle said. "It changed in the fourth quarter obviously, we were trying to do the same things and they adjusted but the third quarter was outstanding."

One problem the Trojans had was their free-throw shooting outside of Richter's 10-for-12 shooting. The rest of the Trojans went a combined 0-for-13 from the line. Schuetzle said it is something that must change.

"That's not good enough (shooting 40% from the free throw line)," Schuetzle said. "Obviously, we need to work on that."

Cary will finish tournament play this afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. game against Hononegah at Woodstock High School.