For the past couple of years, senior guard Toniya Brady perked up when she saw her grandmother, Evelyn, sitting in the stands across the bench in Homewood-Flossmoor’s gym.
Evelyn, 80, died on Tuesday after battling cancer. Toniya said she will miss having her grandmother cheering from her customary spot.
“She was fighting breast cancer and then she was diagnosed with brain cancer,” Toniya said of Evelyn. “She was fighting for a long time. The doctors said in July that it wouldn’t be long.
“Right before Christmas they said it again and she fought for a couple of more weeks. She put up a fight.”
Inspired by her grandma’s fighting spirit, Brady erupted for 10 points Thursday night in the second quarter of a 57-40 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Lincoln-Way West in Flossmoor.
Ziko Okolo led H-F (13-7, 9-1) with 15 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Aunyai Deere added 10 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Laila Williams had nine points, five rebounds and two steals.
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Toniya Brady (2) drives into Lincoln-Way West’s Reagan McCracken during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)
Ava Tisch paced Lincoln-Way West (12-8, 5-4) with 21 points, while Reagan McCracken tallied eight points, four points and three steals. Molly Finn grabbed six rebounds.
Brady, meanwhile, scored all 10 of her points in a span of less than two minutes in the second quarter to help give the Vikings a 27-14 lead.
The loss of Brady’s grandmother was felt by the whole team.
“She’s a tough kid — she’s a lot tougher than I am,” H-F coach Anthony Smith said. “I’m proud of her. It’s tough because she’s used to seeing her grandmother here. I’m used to her being there.
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Toniya Brady (2) drives on Lincoln-Way West’s Reagan McCracken (42) and Ava Tisch (5) in a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)
“We’re here to support her. That’s what a team is all about. We’re here for her.”
Smith often heard Evelyn from the stands.
“She used to get on me,” Smith said with a smile. “Toniya was her baby and she would come to all of the games. She was a big supporter and she liked her basketball.
“Win, lose or draw, she was always supportive and she could come and shake my hand and say, ‘Hey, let’s go.’’’
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Ziko Okolo (12) faces Lincoln-Way West’s Reagan McCracken (42) and Mackenzie Roesner (25) in a SouthWest Suburban Conference game on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)
Okolo was impressed with Brady’s 10-point outburst.
“That was a great performance and it boosted the team’s morale,” Okolo said of Brady. “It was the boost we needed.”
Okolo has taken on some added responsibilities in the absence of 6-foot-3 Ihuoma Ozoh, a Clemson volleyball commit who missed the game due to club commitments.
“When we miss her, I feel like I have to work extra hard,” Okolo said of Ozoh. “When she’s not down there on the post, I have to do more.”
As a co-leader in the conference, H-F is one of the top teams in the area.
But before Christmas, the Vikings got a sour taste of national competition. They played in the Nike Tournament of Champions and lost on Dec. 18 to California powerhouse Archbishop Mitty 55-17.
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Toniya Brady (2) defends against Lincoln-Way West’s Mackenzie Roesner (25) during a SouthWest Suburban Conference game in Flossmoor on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)
After a 47-41 loss to Maryland’s Mt. Zion and a 56-41 setback to Oklahoma’s Newcastle, the Vikings ended the trip to Arizona with a 45-38 win over Utah’s Lone Peak.
“We wanted to go out there and play well and get our name out there,” Brady said. “We tried. It didn’t end up the best for us, but we didn’t give up and we ended up winning that last game.
“We learned some lessons that we are going to carry on the rest of the season.”
Okolo also saw some progress.
“At first I feel like everybody was trying to play individual ball,” Okolo said. “But as the tournament went on, we were stronger as a team and we came together as a team.”
Brady, who’s looking forward to a big finish to the season, will continue to play hard for her grandmother.
“She was here,” Brady said. “She’s watching over me.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
