Warren avenges Lake Forest loss, ties for NSC lead
Warren wasted little time to climb right back into a share of the North Suburban Conference lead.
The Blue Devils scored the first seven points in their game against Lake Forest and then rolled past the Scouts 57-39 Tuesday before a packed house in Lake Forest.
“Those first few minutes were the difference,” Warren coach Zack Ryan said. “They were able to execute stuff the first time. Credit our guys for preparing and watching film and coming in to defend them.”
The win moved the Blue Devils (25-4, 10-2) into a tie for the conference lead with Lake Forest (20-6, 10-2) with two conference games remaining for each team.
Warren has now won five in row and 9 of its last 10. The Blue Devils are home for Zion-Benton on Friday and on the road next Wednesday at Lake Zurich.
Lake Forest won the previous meeting between the two teams on Jan. 10, 54-51. That game began a 9-game winning streak for the Scouts that was broken Tuesday. Lake Forest has games remaining at Mundelein and home against Zion-Benton.
“In our loss against them, they showed us some areas we need to work on,” Ryan said. “We kind of used that as a template of where we have to get better. A lot of it was defensively and stay connected all the time.”
Freshman sensation Jaxson Davis, who would finish with 22 points, said it wasn't an easy win.
“It definitely wasn't easy,” said Davis, who scored 17 of his points in the second half.
“They are a very tough team. I feel we prepared real well, especially after losing to them at our place.”
Davis said that earlier loss to Lake Forest really stung.
“That was a terrible feeling,” Davis said. “But coming into tonight and knowing we could still win conference, I thought we were more connected than the last time we played them.”
Warren stayed hot after the fast start. The Blue Devils would convert seven of their first nine shots.
They also were sizzling on the defensive end. They limited Lake Forest to just four shots in the first quarter while forcing four turnovers as they built a 17-4 lead.
“We knew if we lost we were out,” said Javerion Banks, who rolled his ankle during the early run by the Blue Devils, but still came back to score 12 points.
“I had to fight through and help my teammates. We came in with a championship attitude.”
Warren continued to keep the pressure on the Scouts. They never allowed Lake Forest to get within 11 points and the Scouts never scored more than four consecutive points the entire game.
“When teams go on runs, we have to stay together,” Ryan said. “We knew eventually they would go on a run, but we thought our guys did a good job of not letting it snowball.”
Braylon Walker had seven points for Warren while Jack Wolf netted six points and Immanuel Brown added five points.
Tom Aberle led Lake Forest with 15 points while Hudson Scroggins had 12 points.