In the end, while losing stung, there was more to the game for sophomore guard Aunyai Deere.
Yes, a terrific season came to an end Monday night for Homewood-Flossmoor, but what Deere took away from the journey was what really mattered to her and her teammates.
Consider it a holistic viewpoint, helped by senior guards Layla Pierce and Jaeda Murphy.
What has she learned from them?
“Continue to keep myself up — continue to help keep the team up when they feel like they’re down,” Deere said afterward. “And continue to push each other.”
The 5-foot-8 Deere was tough as nails for H-F during a 48-32 loss to Nazareth in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Supersectional. She scored nine points and added six rebounds and two assists.
Three of those rebounds came on the offensive end and she also had a blocked shot for the Vikings (23-8). Sophomore guard Jenesis Moore had 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Call Homewood-Flossmoor coach Tony Smith impressed.
“She’s a basketball player,” Smith said of Deere. “This is what she loves to do. She does a lot of things for us.”
It was a worthy outing by the Vikings, although Nazareth (31-3) proved to be as good as advertised. Senior forward Olivia Austin scored 18 points and senior guard Amalia Dray had 13.
Essentially, the Roadrunners took away H-F’s vaunted 3-point shooting by stacking the perimeter with three defenders. It forced the Vikings to drive the lane, where Austin and others were waiting.
Deere, junior guard Caris Pryor and sophomore forward Ihuoma Ozoh gained plenty of experience battling down low against reigning Class 3A state champion Nazareth.
In many ways, Deere showed how she’s going take on the leadership role next season for H-F.
“Aunyai came in as a kid who was ready to go, and she wanted it from day one,” Smith said. “I’m proud of her. Next year, she’s really going to be a leader for us. She’s going to take that lead role.”
Pierce said her lesson on leadership to Deere and the youngsters who will return was simple.
Live in the moment.
“We have a tough coach,” Pierce said. “So, me and Jaeda tried to teach them, everything he says, try to take it in. As a leader, you have to carry your teammates and show them what they can do.”
Deere isn’t the only one who’s been aided by Pierce and Murphy. Junior guard Jemiyah McDonald, who had three rebounds and two points Monday, said they were tough when needed.
“They see us laughing at practice and they tell us to focus in so we don’t get into trouble,” McDonald said. “We can get everything we need in our brains and focus on it.”
Moore was a starter as a freshman but came off the bench for most of this season.
At 5-foot-6, Moore is about the same height as Murphy, and so when it comes to shooting the ball next season, the offense should look quite similar.
“Just being a dog,” Moore said. “Because that’s what Jaeda did. She’s a dog. She forces everybody to step up and come together, just encouraging teammates to keep going.”
Smith said he’s excited about what he and his coaching staff will get with returnees like Deere and Moore, who saw the amount of playing time typically dished out to upperclassman.
“I was happy with the seniors this year,” Smith said. “It was more like they held each other accountable. If a kid was goofing off and they had to get on them, they were like, ‘Hey, you did it. We need to get A and B done, and you’ve got to get it done.’
“That’s what I enjoyed about these kids.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
