When the team’s leading scorer headed to the bench in early foul trouble, Marist junior guard Caroline Flynn knew there was no time to waste.
Flynn, a standout defender, strong facilitator and all-around Energizer Bunny for the RedHawks, had to look to score more than ever.
She turned in an impressive all-around performance, totaling 17 points, six rebounds and four steals. But Marist lost 58-48 to Homewood-Flossmoor on Feb. 26 in the Class 4A Mother McAuley Sectional championship.
“I realized I had nothing to lose. This team is really special,” Flynn said. “We had such a good chance at winning so many games. I really had to pick it up.”
The RedHawks (26-9) won a sectional championship last season, the program’s first since 2012.
Also starring in the loss were seniors Livi Cosme (17 points, four 3-pointers) and Lucy Cosme (three points, eight rebounds) and juniors Olivia Barsch (five points, three blocks) and Grace Harmon (five points, two steals).
Junior Lily Porter is Marist’s leading scorer. Battling foul trouble before fouling out early in the fourth, she was held scoreless.
Flynn and Livi Cosme went to work picking up the slack.
Flynn said she loved playing with this year’s team.
“This group is so special,” Flynn said. “We love each other. We hang out together and we’re best friends outside of basketball. That creates so much more chemistry on the court. It’s an irreplaceable group. This team just means so much to each other.”
Marist led 29-24 at halftime. H-F rallied in the third and outscored the RedHawks 19-8 to go up for good, playing a tough, physical game in the post. H-F had eliminated sectional host Mother McAuley 54-46 on Feb. 24.
Flynn, Porter, Barsch and Harmon are all three-year varsity players.
From a 10-win season as freshmen to a combined 52 wins the last two years, the team has done a lot of growing up together at the varsity level.
Flynn said watch out for the RedHawks next season.
“It’s going to be tough losing our seniors,” Flynn said. “We still have our players and will be really good. We know how to play as a team. It’ll be our fourth year together. We have that chemistry. We’ll bounce back and remember this loss.”
The Cosme cousins, Livi and Lucy, were the only seniors on the team.
With a young but veteran group, Lucy Cosme said it was pretty easy leading the way for the RedHawks.
“It’s been awesome,” Cosme said. “We have these awesome juniors and once the regular season ended, our younger players came up, too. We all get it and know what to do. We all work as one. If we get mad or upset with each other in a game, we know it’s not personal. It’s trying to help the team.”
Coach Renee Chimino has led the RedHawks to a 100-67 record over her five seasons as head coach, including three regional titles.
She said she loves where the program is.
“We have the standard at Marist. They had a goal and wanted to get downstate,” Chimino said. “They didn’t get that goal, and that’s OK. You don’t reach every goal you set sometimes.
“This group left it on the floor and had a good time along the way. They helped set the precedent for what I want in Marist basketball. Our two seniors, Livi and Lucy, helped us pave the way.”