BATAVIA – Contending with Batavia post players Elliott Vaughn and Cole Gardner isn’t strictly a numbers game.

The Bulldogs have quality to go with their quantity of post threats, as Larkin found out throughout Friday night’s 74-40 Batavia romp in Upstate Eight Conference River boys basketball action.

“Not just two, but two good ones,” Larkin coach Deryn Carter said of Gardner and Vaughn. “It wouldn’t be so hard if they both weren’t skilled, and they both complement each other really well. Honestly, in our league, I would have to give them the nod as being the best post player tandem in our league.”

The Bulldogs aren’t shy about showcasing them, either.

Batavia’s backcourt showed impressive discipline in providing its frontcourt duo a steady diet of post touches against Larkin’s overmatched frontcourt, which was further depleted by a disciplinary suspension.

All but two of Batavia’s 18 first quarter points came on inside baskets, with Gardner and Vaughn doing the bulk of the damage. Each Strittmatter – Zach and Brady – supplied a first quarter basket, but other than that, it was Gardner and Vaughn attacking the rim with great success.

“We practice that all the time,” Gardner said. “Get it in. We know that if we get it inside and we start doing stuff down there, it’s going to open up for them.”

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Gardner scored a career-high 25 points to go with nine rebounds, while the 6-6 Vaughn finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Batavia coach Jim Roberts approved of his team’s offensive mindset.

“I think going inside establishes some things early, and opens up things from the perimeter as the game goes on,” Roberts said.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-1 UEC River) eventually tossed in a few jumpers, but really didn’t need them in this one. Batavia led 35-23 at halftime, and after Larkin cut the deficit to nine early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 12-1 burst to set up a scrimmage-like fourth quarter.

Gardner thought he and Vaughn showcased solid teamwork in the paint.

“I really like going against [man-to-man defense] because if I can just get one-on-one, I just try to use my strength to my advantage, and Elliott’s got that quickness,” Gardner said. “We work great as a team, and those guards just get us the ball where we need to go.”

Seniors Jesse Coffey and Brady Strittmatter each scored eight points for the Bulldogs, winners of three straight games.

Sophomore Quantice Hunter scored 10 to lead Larkin (2-5, 0-2 UEC River).

Carter thought the Royals’ effort was good in spurts, but needing to tame a pair of battering rams, that wasn’t near enough.

“When you’re at a disadvantage maybe physically with size, it can’t be ‘pretty well’ – you’ve got to scrap really well,” Carter said. “You’ve got to scrap really well for 32 minutes, and we’re struggling to find that consistency right now.”