Lake Zurich starts fast and holds on late to upset Warren

Very few high school basketball players experience any success the first time out against Warren sophomore Jaxson Davis. Even fewer manage to defeat him, but that’s exactly what Lake Zurich junior Evan Peterson pulled off Wednesday in Gurnee.

Kain Kretschmar provided the points and the big moments in the final seconds of Lake Zurich’s 49-48 upset of No. 14 Warren. However, the Bears’ energetic, 18-point first quarter and Peterson’s outstanding game were just as important in the win.

Peterson, Lake Zurich’s point guard, managed to slow down Davis and effectively run his team’s offense.

“Jaxson was averaging about four or five steals a game,” Bears coach Terry Coughlin said. “To limit that was what kind of gave us a chance. Limiting those live ball turnovers.”

Davis had two steals, nine points and five assists. Peterson stressed that it was a team effort guarding Davis, but he was the first line of defense.

“Evan is such a dog on defense,” Coughlin said. “And look how he handled the ball there against big-time competition. He’s a three-sport varsity athlete.”

Peterson finished with seven points. Kretschmar led Lake Zurich (9-9, 3-3 North Suburban) with 23 points. He pulled the Bears within 48-47 on a jumper with 22 seconds left and made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give them the lead.

Davis managed an off-balance, heavily-guarded three-point attempt before the buzzer but it rimmed out. Lake Zurich led 25-19 at halftime and Warren didn’t lead until Davis’ blocked shot and fast-break layup with 50 seconds left.

“When you face a lot of pressure you have to rely on your teammates,” Peterson said. “We had to run our sets and trust our stuff.”

Senior Zach Ausburn led Warren (12-5, 3-2) with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Braylon Walker added seven points and six rebounds.

The Blue Devils have been without senior Javerion Banks for most of the season and have played games without Walker and senior Jack Wolf. But only Banks was out Wednesday. Warren won the Proviso West Holiday Tournament but has lost its last two games.

“[Lake Zurich] deserved to win,” Warren coach Zack Ryan said. “Hats off to them. We are in a little bit of a funk right now. We are not connected in the way we have been the last year and a half.

“Sometimes you have to take some personal accountability for some things. We are playing good teams and if you come out and you aren’t ready to go that’s what happens.”

Lake Zurich opened eyes with an impressive run to the semifinals at York’s Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament and has also knocked off New Trier.

“This is a confidence booster,” Kretschmar said. “It just shows that we can hang with the big guys.”

The schedule doesn’t let up for Warren, which faces Libertyville, Maine South, Lake Forest, Bolingbrook and Waukegan to close out the month.

“We have to practice better,” Ryan said. We’ll be fine. Something is just missing now that we have to find. Missing guys has been part of it but we haven’t defended the way we are capable of.”