Sophomore point guard Stephen Dixon didn’t let any doubt creep in for De La Salle.
After missing his two previous attempts only seconds earlier, Dixon returned to the free-throw line without any hesitation. The scenario was identical. He knew the result would be different.
“My mentality was just the next play up and knock them down,” Dixon said, nodding. “I missed the first two that could have settled the game. I knew the next two would do the same thing,
“I just stepped up and did what I needed to do.”
What Dixon needed to do was hit two free throws with 8.4 seconds lift for the host Meteors, icing a 59-55 win Wednesday night over King in a Class 3A De La Salle Sectional semifinal in Chicago.
Dixon finished with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals for the third-seeded Meteors (19-17), who play top-seeded Hyde Park (24-9) at 7 p.m. Friday for the sectional title.
De La Salle’s Stephen Dixon (5) smiles after making a basket against King during a Class 3A De La Salle Sectional semifinal game in Chicago on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Senior guard Carlos Cueva made five 3-pointers in adding 17 points for De La Salle. Senior forward Remi Edwards chipped in with nine points, eight rebounds and a crucial late steal.
King (16-10) roared all the way back, cutting a 22-point deficit in the third quarter down to a single possession following the missed free throws. Senior forward Lucas Johnson stayed confident.
“I had faith in him,” said Johnson, who fouled out earlier in the third quarter, of Dixon. “He’s like a little brother to me. He always takes control. After I went out, I knew he was going to pick it up.
“He always has great energy and I can always count on him.”
De La Salle’s Stephen Dixon (5) looks for a passing option against King during a Class 3A De La Salle Sectional semifinal game in Chicago on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Dixon scored seven points in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer, and Cueva then hit straight straight 3-pointers in a 15-0 run during the second quarter that helped build a 31-18 halftime lead.
At the end, though, nobody was more on the edge of a seat quite like Dixon’s older sister, Kailey, a senior cheerleader at King. She also plays on the flag football team for the Jaguars.
During the game, Kailey sat with their mother, Carol, in the middle of the stands that bisected each student section. Her loyalty and interest was never in doubt.
“I knew who I was going for,” Kailey said. “I knew he was going to come back strong. My brother pushes himself to be the best person possible like going to the gym every morning to work out.
“I’m very proud of him.”
De La Salle’s Stephen Dixon (5) hits a jump shot over King’s Amir Brown (2) during a Class 3A De La Salle Sectional semifinal game in Chicago on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Stephen Dixon spent eighth grade being homeschooled. His final two high school choices were between going to De La Salle or joining his sister at King.
“One of my cousins came here and played volleyball,” he said. “My uncles and my cousins were all basketball players. Coming in as a freshman last year was more of a learning experience.
“I took what I found out and brought it into this season.”
The season has been marked by tumult and change for the Meteors, with several prominent players transferring before the preseason even began. Sophomore guard Roosevelt Thomas also left for a prep school in the middle of the winter.
De La Salle’s Stephen Dixon (5) shoots a free throw against King during a Class 3A De La Salle Sectional semifinal game in Chicago on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
De La Salle, which finished seventh in the Catholic League Blue, had more regular-season losses than victories. But Dixon persevered through the volatile times.
“It’s all a process of learning the game and understanding the process,” he said. “The season is a marathon. You learn more from losses. We stayed together, executed and fixed our mistakes.”
Dixon, who recently developed a fascination with stock options, is looking to teach himself about investing. His own stock is also on the upswing.
Before the game, Kailey Dixon conducted a FaceTime interview between her brother and his opposite number at King, junior point guard Terrel Keys.
“She was holding her hands out and showing me how I should guard him and telling me to handle business,” Stephen said. “I think I did that.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/stephen-dixon-de-la-salle-basketball/
