By Joey Gelman
Heading into their IHSA third-place matchup against downstate Mt. Carmel, the word everyone kept using in the Phillips locker room was “emotional.”
No matter if the Wildcats finished third or fourth, they still had made history, led by a team comprised of an all-senior starting lineup. The reality of this being their final high school game sunk in before, during and after the game.
“Being a senior leader, it’s been emotional,” Makeemah Byrd said. “Especially these last few games, knowing it was coming to an end, it was very emotional. It’s going to be hard to let go.”
“When they first got to the locker room, our seniors were already crying,” said Head Coach Larry Stokes.
The Wildcats welcomed back another senior, Daija Cohen, to the lineup in their third-place matchup and the veterans led the way in scoring as they always do, with Cohen, Byrd and Nakiyah Williams totaling 30 of Phillip’s total 38 points.
While Mt. Carmel defeated the Wildcats 50-38 in the game, no one was hanging their head having secured a fourth-place finish in the entire state of Illinois in class 2A.
“Years ago, I never imagined coming downstate,“ said Byrd. “Taking those steps and getting here is big, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
“I’m grateful and proud that we all came together as a team,” said Williams. “It’s a blessing, it’s a dream come true. This was one of my dreams that I had since I was young. I wanted my teammates to understand that city is not just the biggest thing, I knew state was the biggest thing and I knew that state was my mission.”
“They were fortunate enough to do something at Phillips on the girls side that has never been done. They made history, and you can’t take that away from them. They’ve etched themselves into the history books,” said Stokes.
While Phillips was led by eight seniors, there is a young core of underclassmen ready to shine as the next great Phillips team, and the seniors are making sure they are ready to face that challenge.
“My relationship with the youngins,” Williams joked. “I had to be more vocal this year, as a leader on the floor, I had to give them a better IQ and vision of the game, and I think I helped a lot of my teammates get better both on and off the court.”
Williams added, “I just wanted to leave an impact on my teammates this year and for the next year to let them know you can have heart and give effort on the court, and it’s going to work out. You can showcase your talents anywhere, anytime, and it’s going to show.”
The future for Phillips is bright and Stokes is welcoming the spotlight because of what it can provide for his student-athletes.
“Phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said. “Once you start winning, people start knocking on your door a little, you can’t ask for anything more. We’re a family at Phillips. Basketball is just a tool, we teach life lessons. Winning to us is them [the players] going to college for free and becoming good adults in the world. “
Photos by Joseph Gelman/OSA
