Hayden Noha earns high praise from his Oak Forest teammates for his toughness and tenacity.
As far as Noha is concerned, those traits are a must for his role. The 6-foot-5 senior forward is the tallest player in the Bengals’ starting lineup and often gets matched up with bigger opponents.
“I’d like to play the four position but I have to play the five because I’m a team player,” Noha said. “I just play my role. When you go against guys who are bigger than you, you just have to get your butt into them and box them out.
“You have to be strong and be gritty.”
Noha showed off all of those qualities Monday night. He scored 18 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead the visiting Bengals to a 57-37 victory over Providence in New Lenox.
Aiden Barnett added 12 points on four 3-pointers for Oak Forest (7-1). Neiko LeFlore finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Xavier Haynes chipped in with five points.
Jayde Wyett paced Providence (2-7) with 10 points. Luke Rost scored nine points, while Reece Kras contributed five points and seven rebounds.
Noha, meanwhile, certainly doesn’t feel overmatched when he’s battling inside. Especially after adding noticeable muscle in the offseason.
“I was pretty skinny until this year,” he said. “I grew into my body some. I knew I needed to add some weight for baseball and for basketball and it’s helping me a lot on the court.”
Noha has also developed into a go-to player for the Bengals. It’s quite a feat for someone who wasn’t really expecting to make the varsity roster last season, according to coach Tyshaun Cobbs.
“He didn’t play on the JV team as much the year before last,” Cobbs said. “He told me he tried out just for the fun of it and he ended up starting every game for us last season. He averaged nine points and nine rebounds and it kind of came out of nowhere.
“We’re lucky to have him. He’s kind of a hub for everything we do.”
Noha was incredibly efficient Monday. He made all seven of his shots from the field and knocked down 4 of 5 free throws.
“This year, being his second year in the system, he’s just a little more comfortable looking for his shot and everything,” Cobbs said of Noha. “He’s really a leader for us.”
Noha considers baseball to be his main sport. He’s a catcher and an infielder for the Bengals.
But he loves being a two-sport athlete.
“It helps me build chemistry with all the guys,” he said. “There are a few baseball players on the basketball team. We just go from basketball right into baseball and it’s great.
“But I just enjoy being with the guys on the basketball team. It’s a different group of guys and they’re fun. And we win, so that makes it even better.”
Oak Forest quickly erased any doubts about Monday’s outcome, jumping to a 21-6 lead after one quarter and rolling from there.
LeFlore, a standout receiver/running back/kick returner for the Bengals in football, was happy to get a small bit of revenge after Providence ended Oak Forest’s fantastic playoff football run this fall with a 31-21 loss in a Class 5A state semifinal.
“Getting to play Providence, that built up a little steam for me,” said LeFlore, who scored five quick points off the bench in the first quarter.
LeFlore believes more success is headed the Bengals’ way in basketball. And Noha is a big reason why.
“Hayden is my favorite player on the team, I’m not going to lie,” LeFlore said. “He’s gotten better from last year with everything … rebounding, his shot.
“He’s like relentless now.”
