Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jeffrey Boyd was known mostly as a 3-point shooting threat last season.
The senior guard showed Friday he’s more than willing and capable to produce points around the basket.
The 6-foot-3 Boyd erupted for 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to lead H-F to a 60-55 win over host Bloom in the Chicago Heights Classic championship game.
“I was just shooting, shooting, shooting,” Boyd said of last year. “Now I’m going to the hole more, and it’s working for me.”
Boyd’s first three baskets against Bloom (3-1) were inside the 3-point line for H-F (4-0). He still proved effective from long distance, shooting 3-for-6, including a pair in the tightly contested fourth quarter.
His 3-pointer with 4:19 to go gave H-F a 53-44 lead.
Bloom senior Jalen Lee, however, scored seven straight points, and Brandon Lashley added a layup that cut H-F’s lead to 54-53 with 2:04 to go. Lee finished with 12 points.
The Blazing Trojans, though, didn’t tie it or take the lead.
H-F coach Marc Condotti has been impressed by what he has seen from Boyd.
“He’s starting to become a player that, even when he’s getting keyed on, he’s able to get his own shot,” Condotti said of Boyd. “He’s finding gaps to get into and driving to the basket.
“He came out in the second half, and all of a sudden, the rim is a swimming pool.”
While Boyd did the majority of the heavy lifting for the Vikings in the second half, senior guard Jarrett Tribble was a key in the first half by scoring 11 of his 16 points. H-F led 28-27 at halftime.
After coming off the bench last season, Tribble is ready for a more prominent role this season.
“I have a lot of energy stored up,” Tribble said. “I’m real excited. I’ve been waiting for this the whole year.”
Condotti is confident Tribble is up for the challenge.
“Tribble is a monster,” Condotti said. “He’s grown up a lot, not just from last year, but this week. He took care of the basketball and made great decisions.”
The decision by 6-5 senior Austin Richie to transfer from Marian Catholic to Bloom should pay major dividends. Richie finished with a team-high 17 points and four blocks.
He said the loss was rough but promised the Blazing Trojans will bounce back.
“It was a good experience but a tough loss,” he said. “You always like to beat H-F.
“We have to cut down on our turnovers, and our perimeter defense wasn’t strong enough. We’ll be ready to practice on Monday and get back to work.”
Marian Catholic 63, Hillcrest 55: TeeAaron Powell scored 14 points, and Brandon Hurt added 13 to lead a balanced attack for Marian (3-1) in the third-place game. Marcus Garrett scored 18 points, and Isaac Stanback added 14 for Hillcrest (2-2).
Thornwood 69, T.F. South 65 (OT): James Pennington scored 14 points, Malachi Palmer had 12 and Travise Earsery 11 to pace Thornwood (2-2) in the fifth-place game. Bron Hill led T.F. South (1-3) with 15.
Harlan 69, Englewood 40: DeSean Pruitt scored 25 points to lead the Falcons (1-3) in the seventh-place game.
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