\n<\/p>\n
John Brown IV is one of the most well-known names in the state\u2019s sophomore class, but that is based on potential more than production. He\u2019s 6-6 and athletic but only started playing basketball in eighth grade and played limited minutes for Homewood-Flossmoor last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn does a great job of playing a role,\u201d Vikings coach Brandin Brown said. \u201cI probably coach him harder than anyone else. He has great upside but doesn\u2019t have any experience. We are throwing him into the fire and he\u2019s learning. John has a really good basketball mind but he\u2019s learning on the fly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The potential is starting to turn into production, and possibly a lot earlier than anyone expected. Brown scored a career high of 18 points on Friday<\/a> to lead the No. 12 Vikings<\/a> to a 64-57 win against visiting Lockport.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels great,\u201d John Brown said. \u201cWe have to keep the winning streak alive and beat Rich [tomorrow at Hillcrest].\u201d<\/p>\n Brown was 6 of 9 shooting and 3-for-6 from three-point range and grabbed seven rebounds.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first year he\u2019s really had an opportunity to play basketball,\u201d Brandin Brown said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to be pretty all the time. But tonight was big for his confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Both teams struggled in the first half and headed to the locker room tied at 19. Homewood-Flossmoor (9-0, 5-0 Southwest Suburban) took control with a 12-0 run that spanned the final two minutes of the third quarter and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. That put the Vikings ahead 48-34.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you let a team go on runs with pressure, you have to be up 15 to withstand that,\u201d Lockport coach Dave Wilson said. \u201cSo, not beating ourselves is the number one thing we need to do better.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior Ethan Jackson scored 14 for H-F. Senior Marvin Douglas scored 12 and junior Danny Ruffin had 12 points and eight rebounds.<\/p>\n Darrius Hawkins Jr., the Vikings\u2019 only returning starter, had four points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He\u2019s the primary focus of the opposing team\u2019s defense every game but took just four shots against the Porters (8-2, 3-2).<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t say I\u2019ve seen him play this way before, but it shows he is taking to coaching,\u201d Brandin Brown said. \u201cAs a young player you don\u2019t know if they are going to force the issue. He didn\u2019t. He impacted the game with only four shots and is celebrating his teammates. That says a ton about his leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Lockport twins Nojus and Nedas Venckus are two of the best shooters in the area. The juniors combined for 39 points and were 9 of 20 from three-point range. Nedas led with 24 points and Nojus scored 10.<\/p>\n