Malik Binns avoided the “U” word, insisted going undefeated isn’t something Bolingbrook bothers to discuss.
The first loss could have — probably would have — come Friday night, if the Raiders hadn’t been saved by a couple of sophomores.
More Top Picks Cosori Dual Blaze
But if Tyler Cochran and Joseph Yesufu can continue to provide this kind of support for Nebraska recruit Nana Akenten, it might be a while before somebody takes the Raiders down.
Cochran scored a career-high 26 points off the bench, Binns had 16 and Yesufu scored eight of his 14 in the fourth quarter as No. 3 Bolingbrook survived Jeffrey Boyd’s 31 points to outlast No. 12 Homewood-Flossmoor 78-73 in a game of wild momentum swings in Bolingbrook.
Cochran had just four points while Akenten scored 23 when Bolingbrook (13-0, 3-0 Southwest Suburban Blue) beat H-F 67-62 in the championship game of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic on Dec. 30.
“The sophomores are really stepping up and doing well,” said Binns, a 6-foot-6 senior who transferred to Bolingbrook from Morgan Park this school year. “They have surprised me showing out like this. Tyler really stepped up tonight. He always has good energy, but today he came out and gave it his all.”
Both teams played catch-up, with Homewood-Flossmoor (11-3, 2-1) using Boyd’s hot shooting to turn a 12-point second-quarter deficit into a 59-50 lead.
Then Cochran took over showing a non-stop motor while scoring eight straight points.
It was a one-possession game for much of the fourth quarter until a putback by Binns made it 77-73 with 30 seconds left.
“He does really good job for us on the glass,” Bolingbrook coach Rob Brost said of Binns. “He did that, especially down the stretch. He finished in and around the rim and played like he’s capable.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Tyler Cochran, Bolingbrook, 26 points.
Key performers: H-F — Jeffrey Boyd, 31 points, 7 3-pointers. Bolingbrook — Malik Binns, 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocked shots; Joseph Yesufu, 14 points, 2 steals. Nana Akenten, 12 points.