Balanced effort leads Vikings to regional championship

Homewood-Flossmoor’s basketball team Friday advanced to the sectional round of the state boys basketball tournament by defeating St. Rita 55-45.

With the victory, the Vikings took the regional championship at TF North High School.

Senior guard Trace Williams had a rough start to the game when he shot two back-to-back airballs in the first quarter. 

 

This was rare for Williams, considering that shooting is his specialty. But he didn’t let that stop him. He made his next three three-pointers and ended his night with 13 points. 

 

“I’m a shooter. Shooters shoot. I just got to keep playing through it,” Williams said. 

 

H-F found itself with holes in the front court. Key big men were out: R.J. Ogom, started but then sat due to an ankle injury, and Isaac Stanback, was out for personal reasons.

In the end, though, the Vikings prevailed over St. Rita.

 

Williams was one of the four players who stepped up and scored in double figures, joined by Maurion Scott, Damen Trice Jr. and Oscar Parrish III. 

 

“It means that everybody was sharing the ball and was not selfish. It’s really good for everybody to be in double figures,” Trice said. 

 

A huge struggle for the Vikings has been taking care of the ball in late game situations. H-F came into the fourth quarter tied with the Mustangs 36-36. 

 

They started the fourth quarter with 13-0 run and managed to maintain a sizeable lead for the rest of the game. 

 

“We defended, we took care of the ball offensively and we took good shots. We just didn’t let them affect us too much when it came to the pressure,” head coach Marc Condotti said.

 

After this win, the Vikings will face off against rival Bloom in the Eisenhower Sectional semifinals on March 5 at 7 p.m.