Bryce Heard, Gianni Cobb fuel Homewood-Flossmoor comeback to beat New Trier in Illinois Class 4A boys basketball semifinals

Bryce Heard scores game-high 16 points in victory

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – The Homewood-Flossmoor basketball team showed its resiliency once again Friday night and now the Vikings have a chance to make history.

Bryce Heard, Gianni Cobb and their Homewood-Flossmoor teammates overcame a slow first half with a second-half surge and a fourth-quarter flourish as they rallied for a remarkable 40-35 victory over New Trier in the Illinois Class 4A semifinals at State Farm Center.

“They stayed resilient throughout that entire game,” Homewood-Flossmoor coach Jamere Dismukes said. “New Trier played well. They got a lot of back-cuts. We worked on it but they still perfected it. Obviously that’s something they do every day. We stayed resilient. That’s kind of been the word of our year, just resiliency. Anytime we’ve faced adversity in difficult atmospheres, these guys always band together and they pull them out. Hats off to New Trier for a great season and a great game.”

Heard, one of the top juniors in the state, led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds while playing all 32 minutes. Cobb, a senior guard, scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, including a clutch steal, layup and foul with 59 seconds left.

“I think we needed a spark offensively,” said Heard, a 6-foot-6 junior guard. “We only had, what, 11 points in the first half? I just think we needed a spark. I came out there and was aggressive and hit some shots.”

Illinois (IHSA) boys basketball state championships live updates: Day 2 scores, results, stories (3/8/2024)

Tied 11-11 at halftime, New Trier took a 26-23 lead into the final quarter but Homewood-Flossmoor outscored the Trevians 17-9 in the final frame. 

The Vikings made 10 of 12 free throw attempts in the final quarter – including four straight from Carson Brownfield and Caleb Chavers in the final 21 seconds – to pull out the victory.

Homewood-Flossmoor (32-4) advances to face Normal Community (32-5) in the Illinois Class 4A title game at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Vikings, who finished second in AA in 2004 and third in AA in 1985, have never won a championship.

New Trier (29-7), which was led by sophomore guard Christopher Kirkpatrick’s 13 points, had to settle for playing in the third-place game for the second straight season.

“I’m so proud of our guys,” New Trier coach Scott Fricke said. “I thought we dictated tempo in the game. I thought we played the game exactly like we wanted to play it. I’m real disappointed. They hit a couple big shots – their good players hit a couple good shots – and we just couldn’t get over the edge. But our kids fought hard until the end.”

New Trier’s second straight trip to the Illinois boys basketball championships included another semifinal loss, but that doesn’t diminish what the Trevians have accomplished making it to Champaign in consecutive years.

“It’s an incredible run,” Fricke said. “These kids have high amounts of character. You see how good they are on the floor, but they are better people. … They wanted to get back to this spot. They wanted to get back here for another chance to do it. If you’re going to beat us, you’re going to have to tear our heart out and that’s what Homewood-Flossmoor had to do tonight.”

Jaheem Webber leads Normal past Palatine in Illinois Class 4A boys basketball semifinals

Illinois Class 4A boys basketball semifinal: Homewood-Flossmoor - New Trier

Photos by Nate Latsch

Download the SBLive Sports app

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL