Leo’s Nate Stephens said his grandmother, Shirley Davis, had never seen him play basketball.

The plan was for her to attend a Feb. 11 game at Wheaton St. Francis.

“My grandmother was rushed to the hospital with a brain aneurysm on the way to my game and later died,” said Stephens, who also lost a friend in the summer and an aunt two weeks ago. “Right now, I just have to push through for my team.

“I’m dedicating the season to all three. I know they are watching over me.”

Stephens came through with an inspiring performance Friday night.

The 6-foot-2 junior forward produced 11 rebounds and three blocked shots to go with five points to lift the Lions to a 72-64 win over the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills.

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) guards Hillcrest’s Jamari Thomas (11) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Brian Kizer scored 19 points to lead Leo (27-6), which advances to play at 6 p.m. Monday in the UIC Supersectional at Credit Union 1 Arena against Hyde Park (25-9), a 43-40 winner over De La Salle (18-17). Leo is 17-2 since losing 50-35 on Jan. 14 to Hyde Park.

Karon Shavers added 18 points and Asa Harris scored eight of his 17 points in the final 5:13 for the Lions, who won the ninth sectional title in program history and their first since 2022.

Anthony Bradley totaled 15 points on five 3-pointers in the second half for Hillcrest (22-9), which rallied after trailing by 19 points in the third quarter. He went on a tear with four 3-pointers to melt the deficit down to four with 3:53 remaining, but the Hawks could get no closer.

Kizer, meanwhile, confirmed he’s good friends with Stephens and has felt his pain.

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) stops a shot by Hillcrest’s Terrence Richardson (12) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

“He seems like he’s doing OK,” Kizer said. “He’s tough. He brings a lot of toughness to the team.”

Stephens was scheduled to go to his grandmother’s funeral on Saturday.

He also grieved over his friend, Davell Holden, who was fatally shot in August in South Holland in a case that was reportedly mistaken identity. Shortly after Davis’ death, Stephens’ aunt died.

“She was in the hospital for two or three years,” Stephens said of his aunt, who was taken off life support. “The doctors said there was nothing they could do.”

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) and Brian Kizer hug each other beating the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

It has been a mixture of joy and sorrow for Stephens lately, but he hopes there’s more joy in the future for Leo and his teammates.

Last season, Stephens went through pain of a different kind. He tore his right Achilles during the AAU season and needed surgery. He came back toward the end of the season.

“I went up for a dunk, and somebody went underneath me and I came down on it wrong,” Stephens said. “The hardest part of coming back was when I started walking it started hurting.

“But I kept walking on it and pushed through for my team.”

Leo’s Nate Stephens (22) blocks a shot by Hillcrest’s Rakee Shelton (23) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Friday, March 6, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Leo coach Jimalle Ridley admires what he has seen from Stephens the past two years.

“He’s gone through a lot,” Ridley said of Stephens. “With his injury, he hasn’t missed a practice and he has missed just one game.”

Ridley is also glad that Stephens can handle a less-than-glamorous role on the team. Stephens had 16 rebounds Tuesday for the Lions in a 68-38 sectional semifinal win over Morgan Park.

“He does his job,” Ridley said of Stephens. “He knows he not taking a lot of shots in a game. He knows he’s not going to be a guy who handles the ball in transition because he’s a team guy.

“All these guys respect him in the locker room. He’s a captain for a reason. He does the job that we need.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/06/nate-stephens-leo-hillcrest-sectional-basketball/