When push comes to shove, senior guard Arden Eaves is there for Homewood-Flossmoor. The Lewis recruit scored the opening basket in the first quarter Friday night and then closed out a dramatic run during the third quarter with an identical reverse high-flying, all-oop dunk. And he got a little help from his friends. “My teammates always have a way out there of trying to find me, and I just play off the energy that they give me,” Eaves said afterward. “They have been pushing me since the summer. “I’m just trying to play to that level.” Eaves was next level against Lincoln-Way West in Flossmoor, totaling a season-high 22 points with five rebounds and two blocked shots in an 80-47 SouthWest Suburban Conference win. Senior guard Jayden Tyler scored 18 points and added six assists for the host Vikings (17-2, 8-0). He scored 16 of those points in leading H-F to a breathe-easy 47-24 halftime lead. Senior guard Ethan Howard chipped in with 10 points as nine players scored for the Vikings. Senior forward Wyatt Carlson finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for Lincoln-Way West (9-10, 3-5). Senior guard Max Gabriel contributed 10 points in defeat. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Arden Eaves (3) goes up under the basket against Lincoln-Way West in a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) The rapport between Eaves and the rest of the team, meanwhile, was significant and telling. He was honored after the game for recently scoring his 1,000th career point. Significantly, most of those points were during the three years he spent at Thornwood, but his new teammates showered him with water in the locker room for an impromptu celebration. “I’ve known him for about two or three years, and I’ve seen the growth in his game, mentally and physically,” Tyler said of Eaves. “That meant a lot to me, him scoring 1,000 points. “It symbolizes what he has done in his career, just pushing hard through everything.” Eaves has made the difficult transition from being the primary option at Thornwood to being part of an ensemble for the reigning Class 4A state champions. He’s averaging 14 points a game. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Arden Eaves dunks the ball against Lincoln-Way West during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) “He’s turning into a winner,” H-F coach Jamere Dismukes said. “He’s learning what it means to win, be a part of winning culture, and what it takes to win and get a team to get to the next level. “I think he’s always been a very good individual player. Now, his focus has been about winning games.” Eaves, who has sacrificed personal statistics to be part of a dominant team, stars in that context. “I’ve just tried to gravitate toward the culture,” he said. “I played against them in the past and I knew about their winning culture. Now, I just want to jell with them. “I always thought of myself as a shooter or best player on the team. Coming here, where there are four or five great players, you get points where you can find them and don’t try anything you don’t have to.” Homewood-Flossmoor’s Arden Eaves (3) goes to the rim against Lincoln-Way West in a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) Listed as a guard, the 6-foot-6 Eaves is H-F’s tallest starter. His 10-point eruption in the third quarter showcased his versatility as a three-level scorer and shot-creator. He hit two 3-pointers, scored off the dribble and closed out the quarter with the reverse alley-oop. His game is flourishing with opposing defenses having to concentrate on multiple scoring options. “I primarily play as a shooter, but I’m always going to cut to the basket,” Eaves said. “I’m always trying to find open lanes and look for my teammates so I could also pass them the ball. “I’m trying to have the whole all-around package.” And no matter what school colors he has worn, Eaves has displayed a trademark discipline and tenacity to improve and grow. “My dad played football and my parents always pushed me really hard for me to do bigger and bigger things,” Eaves said. “What I love about the game is the work ethic. “Whenever I can get into a gym, I want to be there.” Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.