Sophomore guard Caroline Flynn can look back at this season for Marist with fondness.
She helped the RedHawks go from 10 wins last season to 26 this winter, including a trip to the supersectional. She joyfully celebrated the winning of regional and sectional titles in February.
But what she will remember with the most warmth was an East Suburban Catholic Conference game on Jan. 11 against St. Viator as Marist raised money to assist the Flynn family.
Caroline’s mother, Molly, has been diagnosed with ALS.
“It was so special and it meant so much to me to have all of that support around me,” Caroline Flynn said. “I know it’s a difficult time, but I had so much support around me to get through this.”
The RedHawks showed that support again Monday night as Flynn came up big with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 62-48 loss to Kenwood in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Sectional.
Lily Porter added 10 points for Marist (26-9). Olivia Barsch came off the bench and collected a team-high four steals, while Madison Vrdolyak grabbed a team-high four rebounds.
Diann Jackson led Kenwood (33-3) with 20 points and eight rebounds. Ariella Henigan scored 15 points just one game after tallying 36 points against Whitney Young in the Lyons Sectional final.
The Broncos face Alton at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the state semifinals at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
Flynn, meanwhile, has been a starter all season. Her first supersectional game saw her get a steal and a layup plus a 3-point basket in a nine-point run that shaved a 38-28 halftime deficit to 38-37.
“This is the biggest game they have played — ever,” Marist coach Renee Chimino said of her team. “The fact that she could come in here and handle that and be a rock for her team shows what kind of leader she is.”
Eventually, Kenwood used a 15-0 spurt toward the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to put the game away.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” Flynn said. “But with the players we have coming back, I’m looking forward to the next two years.”
Porter, a sophomore guard/forward, was proud of Flynn’s performance this season.
“She does everything for us,” Porter said. “She is a spark. She can score and rebound. She passes well. She always brings energy and always knows what to say.
“I know she’s just a sophomore, but she’s my biggest leader on the team. She means a lot to our team, and I really don’t think we would be where we are without her.”
Chimino pointed out that, even though the 5-foot-6 Flynn picked up some starts as a freshman, she had no hesitation of moving her into the lineup as a regular this winter.
“She does every single drill in practice at 150%,” Chimino said. “You know when a kid does that, it’s going to translate on the court. She’s fearless for her size, and that’s how she earned it.”
For a moment, however, let’s go back to Jan. 11.
Flynn finished with eight points and five steals in the fundraising game, but the most important number was how the program raised more than $10,000 for her family.
Caroline said her mother, who was diagnosed in 2024, is “doing good and hanging in there.”
It wasn’t just Caroline who thought that game was special.
“That was really big,” Porter said. “It just shows how close we are not only as a team but as a community. I think that was the most people we had at a game all year.
“It was the most I’ve seen packed at Marist, and it shows that we all care for each other — not only as basketball players but as friends.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
