Warren Beats Bolingbrook as Jaxson Davis Prevails in Matchup of Star Sophomores
A Star is Born
Kenwood’s Devin Cleveland and Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson are the jewels of the sophomore class in Illinois, according to the recruiting websites. Warren sophomore Jaxson Davis is appreciated locally but still is proving himself to the rest of the country. His situation is similar to that of Tyler Ulis at Marian Catholic in 2013. But Davis has another player in mind when he considers his situation.
Just Being from the North Suburbs
‘‘Just being from the north suburbs, it is kind of different,’’ Davis said. ‘‘But I was able to see Jalen Brunson play up in Lake County. He wasn’t highly rated, and they always said people were better than him. But it’s basketball. You have to come out and play.’’
A Battle of Star Sophomores
Eleven years later, it was Bolingbrook vs. Warren and Thompson vs. Davis at the same event. Davis was dazzling Saturday. He finished with 23 points and eight assists, commanded Warren’s offense and guarded Thompson as the No. 19 Blue Devils beat the No. 4 Raiders 82-71.
A Victory Warren Desperately Needed
It was a victory Warren desperately needed, the kind that gets a season back on track. The Blue Devils limped into the event after losing Friday to Lake Forest. ‘‘[Losing games the last two weeks] was grounding for us,’’ Davis said. ‘‘It was a feeling we hadn’t had in a while. We showed today what we are really capable of.’’
Warren’s Strong Performance
Warren (15-6) rarely had played at full strength this season, but all its starters were available against Bolingbrook. Junior Braylon Walker added 21 points and senior Jack Wolf 20 points and nine rebounds. Zach Ausburn, a 6-8 senior, combined with Wolf to help contain the Raiders’ JT Pettigrew and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
A Physical Game
The Blue Devils outrebounded Bolingbrook 36-19. It was the fourth challenging game in eight days for the Raiders. ‘‘We knew we had to physical on [Pettigrew], strong and tough,’’ Ausburn said. ‘‘If he gets the ball under the basket he’s going to score.’’
Bolingbrook’s Effort
Thompson led Bolingbrook (21-3) with 20 points and five rebounds. Pettigrew finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Senior Kendall Cutler added 14 points for the Raiders.
A Familiar Foe
Davis and Thompson play club basketball together on Meanstreets. ‘‘We have been playing with each other since sixth grade, so we’ve played one-on-one a million times,’’ Davis said. ‘‘We’ve had battles before. We know each other’s moves. I bobbled the ball a few times when he was guarding me.’’
Conclusion
Warren’s Jaxson Davis had a dazzling performance, finishing with 23 points and eight assists, as the Blue Devils beat Bolingbrook 82-71. The victory was a much-needed one for Warren, which had lost its previous game to Lake Forest.
FAQs
Q: Who are the star sophomores in the Illinois high school basketball scene?
A: Kenwood’s Devin Cleveland and Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson are considered the top sophomores in Illinois, according to recruiting websites.
Q: How did Jaxson Davis feel about being a sophomore in the spotlight?
A: Davis said he felt it was “kind of different” being from the north suburbs, but he was inspired by watching Jalen Brunson play in Lake County.
Q: How did Warren’s victory over Bolingbrook affect the team’s season?
A: The victory was a much-needed one for Warren, which had lost its previous game to Lake Forest. It showed the team what it was capable of and got the season back on track.
