In his first season at Bloom after transferring from rival Hillcrest, senior guard Adam Page had to embrace a bench role for several weeks.
He was fine with that, though. And eventually, he worked his way into the starting lineup. Literally.
“I had to understand coming in here, ‘It’s not your den anymore,’” Page said. “I knew I had to earn everything I was going to get. I was prepared and I knew I had to work for it.
“It was just extra motivation to work harder.”
Page celebrated his senior night Monday by scoring eight points to help the host Blazing Trojans roll to a 66-45 nonconference win over Lincoln-Way East in Chicago Heights.
Payton Edwards scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Elijah Lovemore finished with 17 points and seven rebounds to lead Bloom (17-8). Vincent Kelly contributed eight points and Brian Johnson chipped in with six points.
Jaymon Hornsby led Lincoln-Way East (16-10) with nine points and six rebounds. Brenden Sanders and Landon Johnson added eight points apiece.
While adjusting to a brand new group of teammates hasn’t always been easy, Page felt an immediate rapport with Edwards and Lovemore.
“I met ‘P Town’ and Elijah over the summer and we connected really good,” Page said. “I like how we make each other better. The game doesn’t seem too hard even when we have some battles because all of us are winners and we go to battle for each other.”
Edwards certainly welcomed Page with open arms.
“I was really excited to hear my man Adam Page was coming over,” Edwards said. “I was like, ‘Another killer.’ I knew he was going to add to what we had. He helps us with rebounding, shooting and energy.”
Page said it was a bit tough for all the talented guards on Bloom’s roster to buy into their roles and accept less playing time.
Now, he sees it all coming together.
“It was a challenge because we have a lot of stars and we always play at least nine or 10 guys,” Page said. “You have to understand that you have to make sacrifices for the team. I might not score 20 points and I might have to settle for eight points, but maybe I can get an extra rebound or two instead.
“I think everyone understands that now. I think it’s unlocked a new part of everyone’s game and now we’re all just jelling.”
That was on full display Monday as Bloom jumped to a 12-0 lead and never looked back.
Edwards sparked the strong start, pouring in 14 points during the first quarter.
“I had to get it going for me and my team (Monday) to get this win,” Edwards said. “I started off hot. I couldn’t miss. I told them, ‘Keep feeding me.’”
Page, meanwhile, is a large part of why Bloom is playing its best basketball at the end of the regular season, according to coach Dante Maddox.
“He had to learn how we do stuff,” Maddox said. “Adam’s versatility is really good. He can shoot. He’s long enough to guard the bigger guys. He can pretty much stick most high school players. He’s really good in transition.
“When he plays with a motor and plays with toughness and rebounds, he’s huge for us.”
Page is used to having to prove himself. He’s the younger brother of former Hillcrest star Julius Rollins, the 2020-21 Daily Southtown Boys Basketball Player of the Year who now plays at Western Illinois after a stop at Kent State.
“He set the stage so high,” Page said. “There was so much pressure, but I felt like I didn’t really compare myself to him. I played my own way and wanted to take my own route.
“I just want to make a name for myself.”