CHAMPAIGN — Coming off the bench for Leo and stepping onto the court on the big stage at state, Elon Henderson definitely felt some nerves.
After all, he’s just a freshman. But the 6-foot-8 forward was ready and determined to embrace the opportunity.
“I trust everybody on the team to look for me,” Henderson said. “I feel like once they find me, I just have to make my moment. Make sure I do the right thing in the moment.”
Henderson certainly made the correct move more often than not Friday.
He provided a huge spark with eight points and four rebounds in just 13 minutes of action as Leo hung tough for three quarters before East St. Louis ran away late for a 59-40 win in a Class 3A semifinal at the State Farm Center.
Brian Kizer scored 11 points to lead Leo (28-8), which had already sealed the program’s fifth state trophy and first since 2015-16. Jeremiah Echols added eight points, while Asa Harris finished with six points and three steals and Karon Shavers chipped in with four assists.
“It’s actually a wonderful feeling to be here,” Kizer said. “I’m very grateful for this moment right here. It didn’t turn out the way we wanted to, but it feels great to be down here.”
Alex Johnson provided 19 points and 10 rebounds for East St. Louis (32-4). Phillip Jones scored 17 points and Penn State recruit Jamison White finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
The Flyers outrebounded the Lions 37-15 and outscored them 22-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away. But before things slipped away for Leo late, Henderson delivered a big boost.
After scoring inside in the final minute of the first quarter to force a 12-12 tie, Henderson hit a huge 3-pointer in the second quarter and another late in the third that pulled the Lions within 37-31.
Leo coach Jimalle Ridley wasn’t surprised that Henderson was ready for the moment.
“His grade level is freshman, but I think his mentality is nothing like a freshman,” Ridley said. “He’s definitely, mentally, a little older. He’s going to be one of the top players in the country one day.
“He’s got some things to improve on. He’s got to become a 24/7 guy as far as being in the gym.”
As for preparing for state, Henderson relied on faith and some family advice.
“I was definitely nervous, but before the game, my mom told me to pray and put God first,” Henderson said. “That’s what I do before every game to kill my nervousness.”
Ridley, meanwhile, had to deal with more than just nervousness before the game.
He confirmed that he spent a good portion of Thursday night in an Urbana emergency room after feeling dehydrated during the team’s shootaround.
“I’ve still got the hospital band on,” Ridley said. “We’ve been battling adversity all year, and for these kids to battle back from everything, it says so much about the character of these guys, their toughness, their competitiveness. There’s something special inside of them.”
Leo was within 31-28 late in the third quarter before the Flyers went on a 20-5 surge to take control. But with five juniors in the starting lineup, the Lions are confident they will be back.
And of course, there’s the promising freshman. Ridley expects Henderson to be a huge force in 2026-27 for the Lions, who lost 35-32 Friday night to Kaneland in the third-place game despite 10 points from Andre Tucker.
“He’s playing this summer for Bradley Beal Elite, which is arguably the best AAU program in the country,” Ridley said. “He’s going to come back tremendously better. This was a great experience for him.
“To go from playing eighth-grade basketball to going up against (White), who’s a Division I player, who also played for Bradley Beal Elite — so it kind of comes full circle — for Elon to be able to compete and make the shots that he did, that’s just confidence and faith.”
