Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys basketball beat Andrew by 33 points when the teams met Dec. 15 in Tinley Park. The second meeting, in the regular season finale Feb. 17, was a different game.
The Andrew Thunderbolts poured in 25 points in the third quarter to take a lead into the final frame. It took some late-game heroics for the Vikings to pull out a 53-48 win as they head into the postseason.
“This is exactly what we needed, to be in this type of environment to have a game go down to the wire and needing to make some plays,” coach Brandin Brown said. “I think this was a perfect setup to prepare us going into the playoffs.”
Danny Ruffin completed an old-fashioned 3-point play with about six minutes left to regain the lead for the Vikings. The Thunderbolts (11-19, 4-12 SouthWest Suburban Conference) charged back, though, and Ryan Dinnon tied the game at 48-48 with 2:20 to go.
Jayden McDonald made an important 3-pointer, and Marvin Douglas and Darrius Hawkins each hit free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Ruffin led H-F with 14 points while also grabbing seven rebounds. John Brown IV scored six and had 10 rebounds. Dinnon led all scorers with 20 to go with his seven rebounds.
The Andrew game was senior night, with the H-F honoring the four players in the class of 2026 before the game.
“This is really just a brotherhood,” Douglas said. “Every team I’ve been on, all four years, it’s been a real tight bond. Every year, these players, everything, it just feels good.”
Brown said the group was vital to the success his team’s had in his first season.
“I just told them in the locker room that I have such an appreciation for them because they set the foundation for me and everything that I want to do,” Brown said. “They’ve done everything that we’ve asked them to do. They’ve sacrificed so much for this team this year. They’re definitely going to be stamped on my career forever.”
The Vikings (25-3, 15-1) didn’t lose a regular season game in February, finishing on a seven-game streak. They’ll be the No. 1 seed in the Joliet West sectional, playing either Andrew again or TF South in the second round after a bye.
That game will be at Sandburg Feb. 25.
“I’m definitely comfortable (going into the postseason),” Douglas said. “We’ve got chemistry, for sure, all the pieces, all the talent, the dogs.”
Ethan Jackson, a key contributor to the Vikings, wore a boot and was on crutches for the Andrew game. Brown said the senior sharpshooter was injured at practice the day before. Jackson’s status for the playoffs is uncertain.
