In the closing seconds Thursday night, Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jaeda Murphy was being chased all over the backcourt by Lincoln-Way East. And the senior guard was smiling.
Not a smirk, but a real life, ear-to-ear grin.
No way she was playing in her final high school basketball game. Puh-lease.
“It’s just having fun with the game,” Murphy said afterward, still smiling as the celebration began. “In practice, when the scout team and the boys are guarding us, I do the same thing.”
The 5-foot-6 Murphy just ended up doing more of the same, leading all scorers with 22 points as the Vikings beat the Griffins 47-36 in the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional championship game.
Sophomore guard Jenesis Moore chipped in with 10 points off the bench for H-F (23-7), which will play at 7 p.m. Monday in the Hinsdale Central Supersectional against Nazareth (30-3), a 50-37 winner over Kenwood. Sophomore guard Aunyai Deere added nine points for the Vikings.
It was a tough ending for Lincoln-Way East (28-6), which used a late 10-0 run to pull within six. Illinois recruit Hayven Smith, a senior center, led the Griffins with 14 points and four rebounds.
Afterward, while Murphy and her teammates took photos with fans — Murphy holding the sectional championship plaque — H-F coach Tony Smith praised the player she has become.
“She’s the heartbeat for us, man,” Smith said of Murphy. “She’s gutting it out, guarding the point guard, making decisions. We love her. She’s grown so much.
“She may be a little short, but she’s got all the heart.”
It’s also tough to beat an opponent three times in one season, but the Vikings managed to do that Thursday. They beat the Griffins 49-42 on Dec. 5 and then 56-47 on Jan. 23.
Murphy talked about how tough a task that really is to accomplish, giving credit to coach Smith for pushing her and her teammates during Wednesday’s practice.
In other words, don’t let up, because “he knew East was going to come out punching,” she said.
That also probably gives you an idea of what practice is going to look like this weekend.
“Playing hard, focusing on us first and making sure we are doing what’s right,” she said.
Senior guard Layla Pierce said she anticipates plenty of hard work heading into Monday, but that’s perfectly fine with a trip to state on the line.
“Maybe (Friday) might be rest, but coach really likes pushing us — he wants everything game-like,” Pierce said, before turning her attention to Murphy.
“Jaeda is a really good leader on this team. She always puts us on her back, even when stuff isn’t good for everybody else. We really love having her on the team.”
Moore, who made a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter, agreed with Pierce that Murphy has been a great mentor. For example, last season, she taught them how to be poised with the ball.
That paid dividends Thursday.
“I learned a lot from Jaeda,” Moore said. “Just being a team player as well.”
Murphy hasn’t made her college choice yet, and she would be lying if she said she didn’t at least consider that a bit coming into Thursday’s game.
A performance like she had against Lincoln-Way East is likely to draw some attention.
“You know, I’m always thinking about the next level and making sure I’m prepared,” she said. “I do want to go to the next level and play basketball, so I have to be able to show I can play.”
But no matter what happens Monday, Murphy is still going to be smiling, which Smith appreciates.
“It just says she’s cool and collected,” he said. “She is just gutting it out.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
