In his first season at Homewood-Flossmoor after transferring from Lincoln-Way East, Brent Taylor has embraced a new role, with less of a focus on scoring. But when the senior guard pulled down a rebound in the final seconds Monday night, he knew there was no other option. It was his time to get some points. “When I saw the ball, it had tipped out of my hands, so I had to get it and I just knew when I got it, ‘I’m not passing, I just have to score,’” Taylor said. “I saw the opening and I just took the layup.” Taylor drew a foul in the process and converted a 3-point play with six seconds left to lift the host Vikings to a thrilling 59-58 win over Joliet West in the finale of the MLK The Dream Continues Invitational in Flossmoor. Wofford recruit Jayden Tyler led H-F (18-2) with 19 points. Taylor finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while Ethan Howard added 10 points, Arden Eaves provided nine points and seven rebounds and Marvin Douglas chipped in with five points and 10 rebounds. Zion Gross finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds for Joliet West (14-7), while Ethan Hillsman had 12 points and nine rebounds. The Tigers led 58-56 with under 10 seconds to go when Tyler drove to the basket and missed. But Taylor came up with the rebound and scored while getting fouled, then converted the go-ahead free throw. A 3-pointer at the buzzer was well off the mark for Joliet West. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Brent Taylor (1) heads to the basket against Joliet West during the MLK The Dream Continues Invitational in Flossmoor on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) Tyler, for one, was thrilled that Taylor had his back in the final seconds. “I felt relief,” Tyler said. “I knew I missed that shot kind of bad, but with me, I’m going to go hard and I live and die with my results. I’m so glad Brent was able to come up big when we needed him. “Making the layup and then the go-ahead free throw was even better.” Taylor convinced Tyler he would be a good teammate way before he ever played a game for H-F. “I used to play with Brent so he’s not really new to me, but he’s new to me in high school,” Tyler said. “It started when he first got here. He was leading all the sprints. That’s when I knew I could trust him. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Ethan Howard (10) grabs the loose ball against Joliet West during the MLK The Dream Continues Invitational in Flossmoor on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) “Him coming in day one and working hard, that made me put my trust in him.” Taylor said it has been easy to fit in with his new teammates at H-F. The only adjustment he’s had to make is changing his mentality. “The only difference is, at my old school, I was more of a scorer,” Taylor said. “Now that I’m here, I trust my teammates more so scoring’s not really my main priority. I just want to win the game. “I know when it’s time to get mine and when it’s time to get a better shot.” Taylor’s heroics rescued H-F after a sluggish start. Joliet West used a 17-0 run in the second quarte to build a 33-26 halftime lead. Homewood-Flossmoor’s Brent Taylor (1) pulls up for a shot against Joliet West’s Mickeis Johnson (1) during the MLK The Dream Continues Invitational in Flossmoor on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) But Tyler was glad to see the way his team responded, especially down the stretch. The Vikings had only played one other game this season that was in doubt in the final minute, a 55-53 overtime loss on Dec. 15 to St. Laurence. “Now we know what it takes to win a close game,” Tyler said. “Now we know what to do in the crunch-time moments.” Taylor certainly knew what to do when it mattered the most. H-F coach Jamere Dismukes was not surprised, either. “I’ve never seen Brent sulk for not scoring or not being ‘the guy,’” Dismukes said. “He brings his hard hat every day and he just wants to work. I love Brent and I’m just so glad he’s here with us. “That last play is him in a nutshell. Just doing whatever it takes.”