It’s somebody different almost every night for Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys basketball.
For the final game of the Vikings’ home MLK “The Dream Continues” invitational against Joliet West, it was Brent Taylor. With H-F down by two points and less than 10 seconds remaining, he didn’t give up on a play. A rebound initially tipped off his hand before he corralled it in the lane and went back up.
“I knew I had to get it and when I fully had it secure, I knew there was only like six seconds left. I knew I’m not passing. I just have to score,” he said. “I saw the opening and just took the layup.”
Taylor was fouled on the play and made the subsequent free throw with 6.3 seconds left. Tigers forward Ethan Hillsman missed his last-second shot and Homewood-Flossmoor hung on to win 59-58.
“Brent’s a great kid. Games when he scores, it’ll look like he scored 20. In 20 games, I’ve never seen him sulk in the locker room for playing bad,” coach Jamere Dismukes said. “For not scoring, for not being the guy, you never see him sulk. He brings his hard hat every day and he just wants to work. I love Brent and I’m just so glad he’s here with us.”
Taylor finished with 14 points. Jayden Tyler had 19 and was named the game’s MVP.
H-F ended Joliet West’s season during last year’s sectional, winning a 68-66 overtime thriller. The rematch was one that everybody knew the Tigers had circled on the calendar.
“I’ve heard them speak on it a little bit, as in they want to beat us bad. So, I knew they were going to come,” Taylor said. “Whoever we play against, we know they going to play they best game.”
Dismukes said he didn’t address that history with his team. H-F has a new roster. Joliet West has a new roster.
The atmosphere and necessary toughness his team showed did make an impression on him, though. The Vikings lost to Rich Township in the Big Dipper tournament final only a few weeks earlier.
“I think we’re getting better. We learned from (the Rich loss) and that’s impressive to see,” Dismukes said. “We need games like this in order to prepare us for the playoffs. That’s a playoff game. That right there is probably a regional championship (level) game.”
The environment for what Dismukes hopes will become a signature event in Illinois high school hoops was good despite the cold temperatures outside. MLK “The Dream Continues” featured ranked teams from multiple states and 11 players committed to college basketball teams, with several more uncommitted but likely to play at the next level.
Players and coaches got shirts and were fed. MVP trophies were given for each game. Dismukes said he and the school received several compliments.
“I would’ve liked to see more of the community come out but I know the weather these past three days has been a little off and on. That would’ve really put it over the top,” Dismukes said. “I think the teams came and played well.”
