Girls Basketball: Parker Takes the Point in H-F Victory over Joliet Central

The Skinny: Western Illinois University recruit Charnelle Reed sat out of Homewood-Flossmoor’s 70-55 girls basketball victory over Joliet Central on Thursday night because of a knee injury. Stetson recruit Amena Brent picked up her fourth foul and took a seat on the bench with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter. Without their two senior leaders, the Vikings turned to juniors Lauren Parker and Sydni Johnson to step up when Joliet Central caught fire in the second half. Johnson scored a team-high 14 points. Parker took over the lion’s share of the ball handling duties for H-F. And she scored 11 points. The Vikings survived a 25-point performance from Joliet Central’s Nijea Dixon. She made five 3-pointers and poured in 20 points in the second half.

Patch’s MVP: Lauren Parker, 5-9 junior guard, Homewood-Flossmoor. Parker took over ball handling duties on a night when the Vikings played without their point guard, Charnelle Reed, who is nursing a knee injury. Parker showed poise in the face of Joliet Central pressure in the late going. And she made 7-of-9 free throws on her way to an 11-point scoring effort.

Key Moments: H-F outscored Joliet Central 17-4 in the final 5:17 of the first quarter. The Vikings built a 19-9 lead during the spurt. Amena Brent scored six points and grabbed six rebounds. Parker scored eight points in the second quarter as H-F extended its edge to 40-22. The Vikings hit all 10 of their free throws in the first half and 21-of-25 overall.

Homewood-Flossmoor Leaders: Sydni Johnson (14 points, 1 3-pointer), Lauren Parker (11 points, 7-of-9 free throws), Amena Brent (8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocked shots), Jaiveonna Norris (9 points), Jalyn Willis (11 points, 4-of-4 free throws, 1 3-pointer).

Joliet Central Leaders: Nijea Dixon (25 points, 5 3-pointers), Bernasia Fox (16 points, 3 3-pointers), LaSoji Ward (8 points, 7 rebounds).

Quotable I: “They did (fight back),” H-F coach Dana Noble said. “Give them credit. They made shots. We were closing out with two hands up, and they were making shots. Then, we weren’t countering at the other end.”

Quotable II: “It all comes down to communication,” H-F’s Lauren Parker said of dealing with Charnelle Reed’s absence. “We knew it was going to be a challenge because she’s our point guard regularly. So, I had to step up and help the team out.”

Team Records: Homewood-Flossmoor closes out regular-season play with a record of 20-7 overall and a mark of 11-3 in the Southwest Suburban Blue. Joliet Central is 9-17 and 3-11.

What’s Next: Both teams begin IHSA postseason play next week. Joliet Central faces Bradley-Bourbonnais at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, in the Class 4A Joliet West Regional. Homewood-Flossmoor faces T.F. South or Eisenhower at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Class 4A Stagg Regional. Will Reed be ready to return? Noble said Reed's status will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.