Boys basketball: Warren moves one win away from defending Proviso West title
Last winter Zack Ryan and his Warren Township hoops squad had one heck of a coming-out party en route to a 31-win campaign that included a North Suburban Conference co-championship and a Class 4A Elite Eight berth.
It also featured a title run throughout the field at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament where it entered this year as the defending champs.
Ryan felt that his team had been successful at keeping things at an even keel as they headed into their Friday night semifinal vs. the host school.
"I think for our guys it's about having good practices and approaching every game like it's the same," Ryan said. “These guys have done a good job of doing that."
The Blue Devils were able to live up to their coach's assessment as it was able to hold off a feisty Proviso West unit. Warren won 66-52 to earn a second consecutive trip to the title game in the 63rd annual event Saturday night in Hillside when they'll face the team they defeated a year ago, Lincoln Park.
The 13-2 Lions bested fellow CPS member institution Crane 57-51 in the first semifinal.
"We always look forward to playing here and we got off to a good start and we look forward to coming back here tomorrow," Ryan said.
The Blue Devils (9-2) got off to their strong start by receiving technical and logistical support from 6-foot-8 center Zack Ashford who tallied 8 of his 11 points in the first half. Six-2 reserve guard Owen Squires also scored 8 of his 15 points as the two players helped Warren build a 22-10 lead after one and a 34-26 advantage at the half.
After the Panthers (3-3) pulled within 36-30 on two Machi Nelson free throws 90 ticks into the third, Warren would embark on a 9-0 run capped by a pair of successful beyond the arc connections from sophomore guard Jaxson Davis that gave them a 45-30 lead with 4:47 left in the quarter.
West, however, would not go away quietly as it produced a 9-2 start to the final frame closing to 56-49 on a Nelson layup with 4:01 remaining. Warren’s 6-0 surge keyed by 5 of Davis' game-high 20 points left the Blue Devils safely ahead 62-49 with 2:28 to play.
Squires gave his teammates credit for their daily dedication both on and off court.
"It's a team effort (which) really shows on the court,“ Squires said. ”All these guys work their (tails) off, so I'm just grateful to play with this team."
Nelson's 19 points alongside Caleb Burgins' 12 paced the host Panthers who will face the Cougars (8-3) in the 5:30 p.m. third-place game.
For first-year coach Lamont Bryant it's been a case of trying to get his team sea legs in regards to game competition. Proviso West did not play in a Thanksgiving tournament as well as having a West Suburban Silver contest against York postponed.
"The schedule was already made before I got hired in regards to not playing Thanksgiving, so we are just getting out team to play together," Bryant said.