How does TF North’s Jordan Petty, giving up size, compete inside? He won’t back down. ‘It’s more heart over height.’

At 6-foot-4, junior forward Jordan Petty is the tallest player on a T.F. North team that’s loaded with speed but not size.

Against Hillcrest’s trio of star forwards, who are all over 6-6 — including 6-8 Darrion Baker, an Akron recruit — the Meteors seemed to be in for a mismatch inside.

Petty, though, was more than ready for the challenge.

“I’m way excited to play bigger guys than me because it shows how tough I am to college coaches,” Petty said. “It’s more heart over height.”

Holding his own Thursday night, Petty made a huge impact defensively. He even outscored Baker, who was limited to four points.

Petty finished with six points and six rebounds as the host Meteors stunned the Hawks, costing them an undefeated South Suburban Blue season with an 84-64 upset in Calumet City.

Jevon Warren and Chase Abraham led T.F. North (19-5, 11-2) with 23 points apiece. Warren made it a double-double with 13 rebounds. Jayden Small added 20 points.

Quentin Heady had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Hilcrest (25-3, 12-1), which had a 10-game winning streak snapped and lost to a Chicago-area team for the first time this season.

Tolu Samuels also scored 18 points for the Hawks, while Bryce Tillery contributed 12 points and Adam Page finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Petty, who came off the bench with T.F. North coach Tim Bankston saying he went with a “quicker” starting lineup, proved to be an unsung hero in typical fashion.

“Everybody talks about Chase and Jevon, but I’ll tell anybody and everybody that Jordan is the key to this team,” Bankston said. “He does all the intangibles, all the smart things.

“He gets all the loose balls. He rebounds against big opponents. He makes plays that I don’t even think he’s going to make.”

Petty took a big fall and came out of the game late in the third quarter. With him out, Hillcrest made a big run, cutting a 12-point deficit down to 55-50 entering the fourth.

But Petty returned and had a big basket early in the fourth as the Meteors responded with a 13-4 surge to pull away for good.

“I grabbed a rebound, slipped and fell on my hip,” Petty said. “I just stretched it out myself and I was ready. It was very exciting to get back in and score and help set up my teammates.”

T.F. North’s guard trio was unstoppable down the stretch.

In the fourth quarter, Abraham scored 11 points, while Warren and Small each had eight. Combined, they made six shots from the field and 14 free throws with just one miss.

“We were the underdogs, for sure,” Abraham said. “Everybody was talking about how Hillcrest is one of the top teams in the state. We just wanted to come out and compete and show what T.F. North basketball can do.

“I feel like if we play like this all the time, we can beat anybody.”

The teams could meet again in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional, where the Hawks are the top seed and the Meteors are seeded fourth.

T.F. North’s upset loss Friday to rival T.F. South cost the Meteors a chance to play Thursday for a share of the South Suburban Blue title.

Nonetheless, they were ready to go.

“Let’s make no mistake about it — Hillcrest is still the cream of the crop,” Bankston said. “They had an off night. We played great.

“We got on a roll, and my kids, once they get on a roll, they can roll.”

Especially when Petty is playing bigger than his size inside.

“Jordan brings energy and defense,” Warren said. “He’s not a big man, but he’s our big man on this team and he comes and proves it every night.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.