O’Brien: Bolingbrook’s Joseph Yesufu swipes a win away from H-F

Bolingbrook’s roster is loaded with talent. The Raiders have star power, size and an undefeated record. That’s an impressive feat in mid-January. It’s even more remarkable considering that 5-9 sophomore Joseph Yesufu is the team’s point guard.

Yesufu played major minutes on varsity last year, but he still wasn’t fully comfortable in his role early this season.

“It’s been a challenge actually,” Yesufu said. “I had a lot of problems at the beginning, but I got through them. I’ve been playing a lot better and making my team look great. When I think more, that’s when the game comes to me.”

The small guard made the key play in No. 5 Bolingbrook’s 78-73 win against No. 10 Homewood-Flossmoor on Friday.

The Raiders (13-0, 3-0 Southwest Suburban Blue) led by one point with 2:40 to play. The Vikings (11-3, 2-1) had been up for most of the second half. Homewood-Flossmoor had the ball and were hoping to re-establish an advantage.

Yesufu stole the ball from H-F guard Jarrett Tribble. The sophomore ripped it clean and dunked it on the other end. The home crowd went wild and Tribble had to leave the game with an apparent shoulder injury. With one swipe of the ball Yesufu permanently changed the momentum of the game and cost the Vikings a key player.

“I just wanted to get the crowd hyped, get the team hyped and finish the game,” Yesufu said.

He finished with 14 points, eight in the fourth quarter.

“[Yesufu] has really progressed,” Brost said. “Obviously he’s lightning quick, that’s what jumps out at you. His decision making has gotten so much better, his leadership is better and his overall floor game has gotten so much better.

Tyler Cochran, another sophomore, was the key factor in getting the Raiders back in the game. H-F led 59-50 late in the third quarter. Cochran scored eight consecutive points in a minute-long stretch to make it 59-58. He finished with a career-high 26 points and seven rebounds.

“[Cochran] was our second leading scorer in Decatur, so he is capable of doing things like today,” Brost said. “He just gets stuff done.”

Malik Binns scored 16 and grabbed eight boards. His rebound and basket with 32 seconds to play helped seal the win. Nana Akenten added 12 points and six rebounds for Bolingbrook, which out-rebounded H-F 27-22.

Jeffrey Boyd led the Vikings with 31 points and five rebounds. But Bolingbrook held him scoreless in the fourth quarter.

“We really wanted to pressure [Boyd] and make him put it on the floor in the second half,” Brost said. “He still made some big shots.”

Tribble scored 18 points and Marion Scott added 10 for the Vikings. Bolingbrook beat Homewood-Flossmoor by the exact same margin (67-62) in the championship game at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Tournament.

Akenten and Binns are known quantities across the area. The development of Yesufu and Cochran will be key to Bolingbrook’s chances at a deep run in the state playoffs this season. Sophomore Demari Grant had a solid stretch in the game and junior guard Kaleb Thornton has been a strong performer for the Raiders all season.

“Despite what some people say we’ve played a pretty tough schedule,” Brost said. “It doesn’t get any easier for us. We are just trying to get better.”