That Friday night was a tough one for Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys basketball coach Jamere Dismukes. His Vikings, the defending Class 4A state champions, lost 77-64 to Rich Township in the sectional championship March 7.
The ride home wasn’t pleasant. Nothing was, until the next day.
“When my son woke up (Saturday), I just tried to prioritize hanging out with him. He’s 2 years old. I tried to just do stuff with him, see him smile and be happy,” he said. “He doesn’t know that we lost the sectional championship game. That really helped me get over it and put things in perspective.”
After gaining that perspective, Dismukes said he was able to appreciate his team’s accomplishments.
H-F peaked at the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A and was undefeated SouthWest Suburban Conference champion, winning those 16 games by an average of 31.8 points. The Vikings had several victories over quality non conference opponents like Bloom, Joliet West and DePaul Prep. Arden Eaves, Ethan Howard and Jayden Tyler were each named all-conference.
The Vikings were again regional champions, so the 2024-25 season will be canonized on the wall in the school’s south gym. The final record was 30-5.
“I’m happy,” Dismukes said. “(Going 30-5) with a brand new group, an almost totally brand new group, I’m very pleased.”
Rich was a tough matchup for H-F, Dismukes said. The Raptors’ size proved too much, during both regular season and playoff meetings. The 6-foot-7 Al Brooks Jr. had 20 points and 20 rebounds in the sectional final, helping Rich overcome 20 turnovers.
The Raptors advanced to at least the final four in Class 4A. They were set to play Warren on March 14.
“They’re a big physical team,” Dismukes said. “We weren’t a big team, as far as thickness. We had some height and we had some athleticism but we didn’t have those bangers like (last year’s seniors) Mac Hagemaster and Gakobi McNeal and Carson Brownfield. We just didn’t have those this year.”
Dismukes hit some personal milestones this season. In addition to the conference and sectional trophies, he crossed 100 coaching wins for his career. And he’ll send another round of players into the college basketball world, something on which he prides himself.
“I’m proud of not only what we’re doing but I’m proud of the way I handled adversity throughout the year. I’m proud of the way I give my all to my kids, my players in not only their high school careers but college careers,” he said. “The wins come and go.”
The class of 2025 was a significant one for H-F and Dismukes.
Eaves and Brent Taylor transferred in and made impacts in their single seasons with the Vikings. The ones who’ve been there longer — Ryan Clemons, Aiden Derose, Howard, Kyle Polk, and Tyler — were the first players to be under Dismukes for three seasons.
“Hats off to them. They all stuck through it when things weren’t certain,” Dismukes said. “They all weathered the storm, stuck with it and I think they’re all pretty happy about the journey and the experiences.”
Tyler, a Wofford signee, is one player who meant more to both his program and his coach than most. He was named all-conference, all-area and will likely be all-state after averaging 19.1 points, four rebounds, three assists and 2.2 steals per game.
The bond between player and coach is one that Dimukes believes will last forever. Tyler took a backseat to older players as a sophomore and junior before becoming the star as a senior.
“He’s a special kid. He holds a special place in my heart,” Dismukes said. “(Waiting his time) is the reason I love him so much, withstanding that adversity and fighting and not quitting. It’s not that he scored almost 1,500 points in his career. It’s not that he signed a Division I scholarship. It’s about how he approached every day.”
The Vikings season ended prematurely, based on expectations both inside and outside the program. But those expectations are just evidence of where Homewood-Flossmoor boys basketball now exists, Dismukes said.
“We got a lot of criticism for losing in the sectional championship and not winning state but I think if it’s state or bust, your program is headed in the right direction,” he said. “2026 will be another really good year.”