Latest news with #RichTownship
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Al Brooks Jr.'s double-double takes Rich Township past Kenwood in OT. All the way to state. ‘Couldn't just let it go.'
Everything around him got loud and proud, and at that pinnacle moment for Rich Township, senior forward Al Brooks Jr. felt a sudden surge that powered all the way through his body. It also helped that the 6-foot-6 Brooks figured things out early as far as using his height. 'My pops had us playing against bigger guys when I was about 14, and I was pretty small back then,' he said. 'I had to learn how to create shots against contact and score against bigger guys.' Brooks played like a bigger guy Monday night, totaling 27 points, 15 rebounds and four assists for the Raptors in 70-65 overtime victory over Kenwood in a Class 4A Illinois-Chicago Supersectional at Credit Union 1 Arena. Rich Township (25-8), the only team to beat Public League power Kenwood this season, will play Warren (26-10) at 7:45 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Raptors defeated Kenwood (31-2) in the semifinals of the Big Dipper en route to earning the tournament championship before beating reigning 4A state champ Homewood-Flossmoor. Junior guard Jamson Coulter scored 17 points Monday for Rich and senior forward Jayden Williams added 16. Brooks made the biggest play, converting a putback as time expired. That brought on OT, and the rest is now history. 'Being on this big stage, after coming from a Class 2A school and moving up to 4A, I've been waiting for this time,' said Brooks, who transferred with his brother from Hansberry. 'They gave me the opportunity, and I just took over. I took advantage of it. My coach always tells me even if I miss a shot, he's going to uplift me.' Brooks shot 12 of 18 from the floor, and added two steals and a blocked shot. He also was a force of nature for the rest of the team, according to senior guard Kavon Ammons. 'Al was not going to let us lose — not the way he played,' Ammons said. 'He's the driver of everything we do with our offense and how we play out there. He brings it like that every game.' Brooks provided the path forward after Kenwood led by as many as seven points in the first half. His offensive rebounds created second-chance opportunities. His ability to get to the basket opened up the rest of the offense. 'Al played amazing,' Williams said. 'I looked at his stats on the board just before overtime. He had 25 and 13, and I just said we can't let him do this by himself. 'The rest of the team had to come together, box out and get rebounds. They started collapsing on Al, and it left me and others wide open. We just started taking advantage.' Williams scored 13 of his points during the second half. Brooks and his brother Ikee, a senior guard, came from the network of Noble Street charter schools in the Public League's secondary division. The chance to play for Rich Township coach Lou Adams, who won three state championships at Public League power Orr, marked a step up in competition Brooks could not refuse. 'We've been saying since the beginning of the year, when my brother Ikee I got here, that we were going to get it done,' Al said. Adams' driving, animated and dramatic coaching style has brought out the best in Al's game. 'He's a special player, a special talent,' Adams said of Brooks. 'You only get a player like him once a generation. 'For a long time, it didn't look like we'd even get to overtime. Once we did, we felt pretty good. He had some foul problems. We took him out a couple of times, and I just told him to calm down.' Then, Brooks' final steal set up a dunk by junior forward Troy Garner Jr. to seal the deal. 'I have a passion for basketball and the game,' Brooks said. 'I couldn't just let it go.'
Chicago Tribune
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Jayden Williams stars as Rich Township rolls past Homewood-Flossmoor for sectional title. ‘It was just personal.'
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.'
