Boys basketball: Warren’s new starters deliver in win at Waukegan

Warren was ranked top-five in Illinois to start the season, but has just two starters back from last year's state runner-up.

So the Blue Devils' three senior newcomers will be important, and they delivered in Saturday's 60-57 victory in an early-season showdown at Waukegan.

At one point, Warren led 18-10, and the two third-year veterans — Jaxson Davis and Braylon Walker — hadn't even scored. Six-foot-4 center Avonn King tallied 11 of his 13 points in the first quarter, and that was after suffering a sprained ankle in practice on Thursday.

“I just want to do whatever I can do to help the team,” King said. “Just be available for the point guards when they trap and stuff. And just stay composed. This was a big crowd, we've got to stay together as a team and stay composed.”

Among the other new Warren starters, Joel Paasch hit some timely 3-pointers, while Javin Griffin (10 points) scored his team's last field goal of the game, a short lane jumper off an inbound that made it 56-51 with 2:09 left.

“They were practice players last year, so they understand what we've got to do,” said Davis, who led Warren with 23 points. “They've just got to meet the level of intensity and I feel like tonight, they matched that level and they were really prepared. I'm proud of them.”

Waukegan (6-2) got a tough break when 6-4 senior Simereon Carter, arguably the team's best player, turned his ankle in the opening minutes. He limped through the first half, before eventually taking a seat in the third quarter and didn't score.

“He's been playing like a first-team all-stater,” Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw said. “We have tough kids, we have a veteran senior group. We always know we're going to have some fight.”

The host Bulldogs never led, but kept coming back. Warren's biggest lead was 11 late in the first half. Early in the third quarter, Waukegan tied the score at 37-37. The Blue Devils (5-1) were back ahead by 10 late in the third, then the Bulldogs got within 1 a few times late in the game and missed some chances to take the lead.

Tre'veon Roberts scored 4 straight points to bring Waukegan within 56-55, then guard Carter Newsome tied up Davis, giving the Bulldogs possession. After a 3-point miss, Davis knocked down 4 free throws, then ended the game with a steal.

“I knew Newsome is a big shot maker, that's my buddy, so I knew they would try to get him the ball,” Davis said of the final steal. “I read his eyes and went for the steal.”

Walker had a tough shooting night, but came up with some huge rebounds. Adrian Serrano led Waukegan with 16 points, while 6-7 senior Rico Love added 14.

These teams met in the championship game of the Waukegan sectional last season, with Warren winning in overtime. The site of this season's sectional has not been announced. Warren and Mundelein will host Class 4A regionals.

Warren lost a close state championship game to Benet in the spring. If those teams meet again in this year's tournament, it would happen in the supersectional, based on information released by the IHSA.