Last Friday night was the regional finals in the boys basketball playoffs. Warren and the Bulldogs of Waukegan faced each other for the third time this year and it was very competitive.
The previous two meetings of the teams resulted in Warren winning both games including one at the Almond campus and one at WHS. The game got off to a hot start with the teams battling it out, point after point. Just before halftime, Waukegan was given a technical foul after one of their players stuck their tongue out at the student section after draining a three. The result with the tech, got the student section fired up. The Bulldogs trailed at halftime 33-28. The Blue Devils came back stronger in the second half, taking the lead forever midway through the 3rd quarter.
This is the first time in 12 years Warren has won a regional title. Jaxson Davis led the Blue Devils with 25, followed by Javerion Banks with 11 and Mannie Brown, Alex Daniels and Jack Wolf with 9 apiece.
This past Tuesday the Blue Devils played against the Dekalb Barbs for the Sectional Semifinals. This game went back and forth throughout the first half. Until Warren took over with less than 4 minutes in the 2nd quarter. Javerion Banks drained a three in the last few seconds of the half putting the Blue Devils ahead by 7 points at 39 to 32. Warren went on to win the game 70 to 57. Banks led the team with 27 points, followed by Davis with 21 and Mannie Brown with 10.
The Blue Devils will play in the Sectional Final Friday night at Rock Valley College in Rockford. Their competitor will be McHenry HS. Tip-off is slated for 7pm.
