Looking for scoring and rebounding? Junior guard Asia Haynes has it covered for T.F. South.
But it’s covering people on defense and picking up steals that makes her lethal to opponents.
“It’s a mental thing,” Haynes said of her ability to get steals. “I don’t care if I miss my shots or make my shots, effort is how I’m going to keep on playing. It’s fighting and fighting.
“I don’t try to get steals — I try to give an effort.”
The 5-foot-8 Haynes gave a terrific all-around effort Monday night.
She scored 21 points and added eight steals and six rebounds to lead the host Red Wolves to a 57-44 victory over Evergreen Park in a South Suburban Conference crossover game in Lansing.
Gigi Dillon came through with 17 points and Brie Hawthorne had seven rebounds for T.F. South (20-2, 7-2 SSC Blue). Tatum Harris led Evergreen Park (16-6, 2-4 SSC Red) with 15 points.
Ella Throndson scored 14 points off the bench for the Mustangs. Grace Kole added 11 rebounds.
Haynes, meanwhile, produced 13 points and six steals during the first half to stake the Red Wolves to a 33-21 lead.
“She’s very aggressive — very aggressive,” Dillon said of Haynes. “She’s very gritty. She’s a hustle type of player. She will always hustle no matter what.
“If she turns the ball over, she will get back on defense and get steals.”
Dillon confirmed that Haynes makes things look easy to pile up steals but can attest that it’s not.
“It’s not easy because you get tired,” Dillon said. “But I never see her get tired.”
T.F. South coach Eric Bryce doesn’t see much fatigue from Haynes, either. He has been watching her play since she started coming to his camps in sixth grade.
“She’s a high-motor kid,” Bryce said of Haynes. “You never have to ask her to go out there and work hard. She’s just going to work and work and work. Trying to get her going is not a problem.”
One of Evergreen Park’s biggest wins of the season came on Dec. 11 when the Mustangs trailed T.F. North on the road 45-38 heading into the fourth quarter and pulled off a 59-57 win.
On Monday night, the Mustangs trailed by 12 with 4:48 left in the third quarter and mounted a furious rally to cut the deficit to 46-42 with 6:01 left in the fourth.
But this time, there would be no big win over a T.F. team. Haynes helped prevent the Mustangs from finishing the job, scoring six of the Red Wolves’ final 11 points to put the game out of reach.
“I’ve known her a long time,” Bryce said of Haynes. “She loves a challenge. When you challenge her, she will respond.”
While Haynes has worked on being a good all-around player, there are a few wrinkles to her game she wants to iron out.
“Right now, I’m working on being consistent with my jump shot,” she said. “I shouldn’t miss open shots. I’m trying to get that down pat. Also, I need to be able to go to my left more.”
This is the third time in four seasons that the Red Wolves have won 20 or more games.
Before that, the last time T.F. South won 20 games was in the 2013-14 season. Two other times before that, the Red Wolves had won 20 or more games, so this is one of their best stretches.
This season’s team for T.F. South has decided on making the challenge of breaking the program’s single-season record of 27 wins set in 2022-23.
“This is my favorite season so far,” Haynes said. “We have chemistry and we are working hard in practice every day. That shows on the court.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
