Neiko LeFlore brings a football attitude to the basketball court for Oak Forest. He was a star receiver/running back/kick returner for a Bengals team that reached the Class 5A semifinals.
But in the winter season, sometimes that mentality gets LeFlore in trouble. The junior guard has been working on calming down a little bit.
“I have to control my emotions sometimes,” LeFlore said. “In a big game, I have to stay in control. We’ve been having a lot of heated, close games lately and I feel like I’ve been doing better with it.”
LeFlore did a great job staying composed and running the show for Oak Forest in an intense game Tuesday night. He scored 13 points to help the visiting Bengals pull off a 55-53 South Suburban Blue overtime win over Lemont.
Hayden Noha led Oak Forest (19-8, 10-1) with 23 points and 10 rebounds and also scored the game-winner with three-tenths of a second left in OT.
Noha broke open underneath the basket off an inbounds play and converted a layup.
“That play was working the whole game so we decided to go back to it and it worked again,” Noha said. “It felt great. Beating Lemont was better than me hitting the game-winner.
“We don’t like Lemont — and they beat us in baseball last season.”
Gary Manso added eight points for the Bengals, while Aiden Barnett contributed seven points and Enoch Olukolade pulled down nine rebounds.
Zane Schneider led Lemont (14-11, 8-2) with 23 points, including a 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation that forced overtime. Ryan Crane scored 12 points, while Luke Glotzbach finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
LeFlore, meanwhile, feels he benefits from bringing some of what he’s learned in football to the basketball court.
“The toughness transfers over,” LeFlore said. “For me, defense comes first and is the biggest aspect of basketball for me. The offense just comes in when it can.”
Oak Forest coach Tyshaun Cobbs appreciates that mentality, especially in a point guard.
“Neiko’s our engine,” Cobbs said. “When he’s good, we’re good. When he’s bad, we struggle. In this game, he got us off to a really good start.
“Sometimes, he gets a little emotional with calls and stuff, so I’m in his ear all the time. We have a really good relationship. He drives the bus for us. It’s a lot of pressure on a junior’s shoulders, but he’s doing a great job with it.”
LeFlore indeed had the hot hand early, scoring eight points in the first quarter.
“Neiko brings pretty much everything for us,” Noha said. “He’s the point guard, takes care of the ball and gets us into our offense. He’s been hitting threes lately, which has been unlocking our offense more.
“He’s been cool-headed lately, which is better.”
About that. LeFlore pointed out that he’s taking advantage of certain moments in the game to relax himself.
“When the other team is shooting free throws, I just stand at half court, take a couple deep breaths and slow down,” LeFlore said.
Oak Forest trailed 53-48 in OT before scoring the final seven points on Manso’s 3-pointer, Barnett’s steal and layup and Noha’s winner.
LeFlore had to watch the final play from the bench after he fouled out with 31 seconds left.
“I was mad, but I knew I had to cheer my team on,” he said. “When I saw the play, I was like, ‘Whoa.’ Hayden is nice. I love my big man.
“Beating Lemont in football and then basketball feels great. It’s kind of like winning two wars. We hate Lemont.”
LeFlore confirmed that he has a hard time choosing his favorite sport between football and basketball. But when it comes to the latter, it’s nights like Tuesday that fuel his passion.
“The intensity of the game, playing inside with student sections yelling, it’s just fun,” LeFlore said.
