Will Cook County News

Written by Claude Martinez.

The Richton Park Sectional held two of the hottest teams in the area where the Homewood-Flossmoor Vikings took on the Bloom Township Blazing Trojans.

In the first, both teams were playing good defense until Bloom TWP left Bryce Heard open for three at the tip of the arch starting the game for HF. Elijah Lovemore (Bloom) was fouled by Mac Hagemaster going two for two and after he was fouled again. He converted the next two. Moving on, Lovemore stepped up with a three-pointer. The next possession Heard was spinning out, near the baseline, but his layup landed. HF wanted the lead back so Dominic Pangallo shot in the corner and Gianni Cobb rushed in the paint.

At the end of one HF 16, Bloom TWP 15.

The second was a slow start with only five points scored in the first four minutes. Nearing the final two minutes, Heard was fouled on the inside with the ball hitting net. After he made the three point play. Later, the ball was going many directions, inside the paint, and Carson Brownfield batted his way to get the ball. He scooped it up shooting a short shot with three defenders on him.

Halftime HF 30, Bloom TWP 25.

In the third, the star of Bloom TWP, Lovemore received his fourth foul limiting his aggressive playstyle.

Moving into the fourth, Homewood-Flossmoor was able to light up and make some big stops with great ball control leading to a sectional victory.

The final was HF 61, Bloom TWP 50.

Head Coach Jamere Dismukes spoke about the sectional. “I thought we played well the entire game. Our defense was on point. We kept switching from zone to man the entire game.” “Bloom is a good team. They made some shots and when they made a run… I told the guys in the huddle, they are supposed to make a run. Their a good team and their going to make some runs but it’s about how we react to those runs.” “Every time they made a run we punched back and we punched harder.”

Bryce Heard talked about win the sectional championship. “It feels great. Especially doing it with this group of guys. HF hasn’t won it in 20 years so it’s good to win this for the community.”

Jayden Tyler said “This is my first one and we won.”

Gianni Cobb knows their is more to come. “We have to get past this one and move to the next one.” “We need to defensive rebound” if we are going to keep winning.

Carson Brownfield added “it’s always good making history.” Coach JD told me “keep leading my team and leading us to the victory. I’m a veteran on this team and helping the guys out and showing them the way.”

Dismukes spoke about their upcoming match up against Curie. “We have to be ready for their zone defense and their ball pressure. That is a team, no matter how far ahead you are of them, they don’t go away. They are going to play the whole 32 minutes and more.”

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Special thank you to atheltic director Steve Diversey (Rich) and head coach Jamere Dismukes (HF) and Dante Maddox (Bloom TWP.).