Homewood-Flossmoor girls basketball was ahead of schedule in its results this season.

The Vikings (24-10) were a young team. Aunyai Deere and Ihuoma Ozoh were the only seniors on the roster. Coaches talked throughout the season about the need to develop, and most expected this year to be one aimed more at setting a foundation for the future than making a serious run.

But H-F delivered results early, winning the the SouthWest Suburban Conference with a 15-1 league record. It made a postseason run to the elite eight, as well, falling 54-47 to Belleville East in the super sectional. The Vikings pulled upsets over Mother McAuley and Marist along the way. 

Deere was named third-team all state by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. 

On the boys side of the hardwood, H-F went 29-4 in the first season with Brandin Brown at the helm. The Vikings were SWSC champs (15-1), Chicago Heights Classic champs and regional champs.

The run ended for the boys at the sectional final, where the lost to Marist 76-64. 

Sophomore guard Darrius Hawkins Jr. was named second-team all state. 

Pair of H-F grapplers qualify for state

Two Vikings wrestlers placed in the state championship.

Chazz Robinson spent much of the regular season ranked No. 1 at 126 pounds. He lost 5-4 to Oak Park River Forest’s Jamiel Castleberry in the second round at state but battled his way back into the third-place match.

Joliet Catholic’s Lukas Foster won that match 5-4, and Robinson finished fourth.

On the girls side, Kendra Hayden lost her opening match 7-0 to Nadia Razzak of Schaumburg but she, too, worked her way back into medal contention. Hayden won the next three matches to get onto the podium.

She lost 7-2 to Plainfield South’s Kimyra Patrick in the fifth-place match and finished sixth. It was the first year of wrestling for Hayden.