Carson Brownfield wins HF state championship

CHAMPAGNE — Carson Brownfield He left Homewood-Flossmoor after his freshman year.

But it doesn’t last long.

For a year, St. After playing at Rita, Brownfield returned to his hometown school confident he could take HF to new heights. That’s exactly what the senior forward did.

“Once a Viking, always a Viking,” Brownfield said. “I truly believed in my community, my alumni, and everyone. “We’ve really made a change, and I’m proud to be able to be a part of it.”

This change came to a head on Saturday night.

Brownfield had 12 points and seven rebounds as HF captured its first state title in program history by defeating Normal Community 60-48 in the Class 4A championship game.

Bryce Heard He led HF (33-4) with 21 points and 10 rebounds at State Farm Center. jayden tyler added 15 points and 7 rebounds Gianni Cobb took the top spot with eight points.

HF coach “We made history forever” Jamere Dismukes aforementioned. “We are legend. These kids are legends. To be able to do something that two NBA players haven’t been able to do is huge.

“This means everything to us, our community, our school and me as a head coach.”

This is the first state championship in boys basketball for a school in the south suburbs since Hillcrest won the Class 3A title in the 2009-10 season.

Braylon Roman scored 18 points and defeated Normal Community 32-6.

After HF put up a strong offensive fight in an 11-11 first-half draw against New Trier in Friday’s semifinal, the title game could not have been a more contrasting affair.

Brownfield helped the Vikings get off to a strong start, scoring five of his 21 points in the first quarter. HF was mostly in control and their lead never dropped below five points.

With 3:33 left in the fourth quarter, Brownfield scored a point at the basket to put the Vikings ahead 53-43 and the party was in the Vikings’ favor.

Heard, who started his career at Kenwood before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida and then returning to Illinois to join HF this season, helped the Vikings finish things off with a dominant performance.

“It’s a great feeling,” Heard said. “We showed up, the community showed up, and they showed up all season long. That’s why I came back; to win a championship for this community.”

Brownfield, meanwhile, was H-F’s best player last season but left most of the attention to Heard and Cobb as a senior.

This was okay with him.

“I’m definitely not a selfish person,” Brownfield said. “I am very self-sacrificing. Seeing my siblings’ success is the same as my success. I love seeing my brothers win, whether I’m in the spotlight or not.

“I knew I could teach them and guide them.”

Dismukes said Brownfield “did everything it took to win a game.”

It was a compliment that Brownfield was very proud to hear.

“There are a lot of little things involved,” Brownfield said. “And hearing coach ‘JD’ says I’m a leader and they can’t do this without me, which means a lot.”

Cobb and Heard machagemasterH-F’s top three players were new transfers to the program this season.

While Heard knew some questioned how the team would find chemistry, the Vikings proved those doubts wrong.

“We just stayed together,” Heard said. “Coach ‘JD’ made sure we had to come together.

“At the beginning of the season they were really doubting whether we could play together, but we came together and got the job done.”

The brownfield was at the center of everything and helped the Vikings make history.

“Carson is Bay HF,” Dismukes said. “He is the heart and soul of our team. He lets me hold my breath and my words because he is such a great leader and such a great captain.

“Even when I hear him talking to children, I turn away and listen.”