Lacking two starters and chasing six factors halfway by way of the fourth quarter, Warren didn’t flinch.
Led by repeat tourney MVP Jaxson Davis and far improved large man Zach Ausburn, the Blue Devils rallied previous Lincoln Park 59-58 Saturday to win the Proviso West Vacation Match.
Davis, who grew to become the primary freshman MVP within the historical past of the 63-year-old tourney final season, performed all 32 minutes and scored 21 factors. Ausburn completed with 18 factors, together with his first three-pointer of the season, and 15 rebounds. Jack Wolf scored eight factors, Owen Squires hit a pair of three-pointers and Avonn King grabbed seven rebounds for the Blue Devils.
Warren (10-2) defended its title regardless of the absence of beginning guards Braylon Walker and Javarion Banks. Walker is out with pneumonia however is anticipated again quickly. Banks had surgical procedure and is out for a couple of month, based on Warren coach Zack Ryan.
Beating an elite workforce like Lincoln Park (13-3) shorthanded can solely assist the Blue Devils down the highway.
“This was big for us closing out the primary half of our season,” Ausburn mentioned. “Profitable this match for the second 12 months in a row with two of our guys out, it’s difficult for us. However we had been in a position to persevere and get by way of it.”
Ausburn, who hadn’t even tried a three-pointer all season, hit one from the highest of the important thing to cap a 7-0 run that gave Warren a 53-52 lead with 2:59 remaining.
“He hasn’t taken any as a result of that’s not what he does for us,” Ryan mentioned. “A whole lot of credit score goes to him for engaged on his particular person submit sport with our assistant coaches. … He’s actually grown and gotten higher down by the basket, his footwork and stuff like that.”
Davis has seen the expansion in Ausburn, too.
“Final 12 months … he didn’t play a lot, however he knew what his position was [this season] and he helped large time,” Davis mentioned. “He’s robust as nails.”
Jaylen Dickerson hit a 3 from the proper nook to place Lincoln Park again on high at 55-53. However Wolf and Davis made back-to-back three-pointers to provide Warren a 59-55 lead and the Blue Devils held on.
“It simply reveals how deep our workforce can go,” Davis mentioned. “We now have two guys out proper now and we’re nonetheless successful big-time video games towards big-time groups. Simply successful these sort of video games, realizing what we will do late in February, in March — make it downstate once we’re totally healed and able to go. It simply feels particular.”
Dickerson scored a game-high 22 factors for Lincoln Park, Chayse Turner had 11 factors and eight rebounds, Larry Harris III added seven factors and Kaydin Williams completed with six factors and 5 assists.
Turner was tasked with guarding Davis, who shot 5-for-18 from the ground however made 9 of 10 free throws.
“I believe Chayse is the very best senior defender within the state of Illinois,” Lions coach Josh Anderson mentioned. “He guards one by way of 4 and I believe he’s going to hold that on to the following degree.”
Lincoln Park remains to be a piece in progress, based on Anderson.
“My workforce remains to be maturing,” he mentioned. “I’m OK with the trouble that we gave. We had been locked in from first quarter to fourth quarter. A pair bounces didn’t go our method. It’s one thing that we will study from and mature from.”
