Jayden Williams stars as Rich Township rolls past Homewood-Flossmoor for sectional title. ‘It was just personal.'

Chicago Tribune

08-03-2025

Jayden Williams is no secret anymore. The junior guard is a star.
Williams, who was coming off the bench at times earlier in the season for Rich Township, has defenses game-planning around him now.
And his teammates, like Al Brooks Jr., know exactly what Williams is going to bring every night.
'Jayden, I love that boy,' Brooks said. 'That's our silent killer. He's like our jump-starter. He gets us starting. When Jayden starts killing, the whole team's killing.'
That's exactly how things went Friday as Williams' hot start sparked the host Raptors on their way to a 77-64 win over defending state champion Homewood-Flossmoor in the Class 4A Rich Township Sectional championship game.
Williams, who scored 11 points in the first quarter, finished with 22 points and six rebounds to lead third-seeded Rich Township (24-8). Brooks dominated inside with 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Jamson Coulter scored 14 points. Nyshawn Turner had seven points and seven rebounds.
It's the first boys basketball sectional championship for the Raptors since the district consolidated into one athletic program and the first for any district school since Rich Central in 1997-98.
Wofford recruit Jayden Tyler scored 15 points for top-seeded H-F (30-4). Ethan Howard added 14 points, while Brent Taylor and Arden Eaves each tallied 11 points. Eaves also had 10 rebounds.
Rich Township will take on Kenwood (31-1) at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Illinois-Chicago Supersectional at Credit Union 1 Arena. The Raptors are the only team to beat the Broncos this season with an 87-83 decision in a Big Dipper semifinal on Dec. 28.
Speaking of the Big Dipper, Williams came off the bench to score 18 points for the Raptors in an 81-67 victory over H-F in the championship game. So, he has certainly had the Vikings' number.
Unlike in the past.
'It really started last season when we played them in the Big Dipper,' Williams said. 'I didn't score a point. I was shooting the ball and I just couldn't make a shot.
'So, when I played against them this year, it was just personal. I had to show them how I could score against them now.'
Williams led the Raptors to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter and they never looked back.
'It was amazing,' Williams said. 'We had to start off fast. In the past couple games, we've started off slow and we've had to come from behind.
'If we start out fast, nobody can really get in front of us after that.'
The Raptors turned a 39-29 halftime lead into a commanding 65-45 advantage through three quarters, but the Vikings did not go down without a fight.
H-F pulled within 70-62 with just under three minutes to go, but Rich Township countered with six straight points, including four from Brooks.
Brooks, meanwhile, pulled down seemingly every rebound that was up for grabs all night.
'I'm a dog, man,' Brooks said. 'They were small, so I felt like I could eat inside. I felt like if I go get every rebound, my team is going to win. I just fought and scratched to get every rebound, every loose ball, everything.
'I just had to play hard. There ain't no tomorrow.'
Rich Township's season now has a tomorrow, though, and Raptors coach Lou Adams knows Williams is a big reason why.
'He's one of the best players in the state,' Adams said. 'People don't know that, but I tell people it all the time. Jayden Williams is pretty good.'
Williams appreciates the kudos, but he's not too concerned with the personal glory.
'I don't really pay attention to it,' he said. 'I'm just trying to win state. It feels amazing to get this far. We've got one more game to make it to state.'