Warren (Gurnee) at The Dog Pound aka Waukegan!!! Another Sectional Final, a great history and game 16 years ago that ended on half court shot by Jereme Richmond of Waukegan!!!

The Dog Pound is the best venue to watch a high school basketball game specifically when Waukegan is good. Old school barn style gym, low ceiling, nice atmoshphere. You can smell the popcorn popping, most seats you have to sit upstairs. It was built in 1927 These towns touch each other. A short drive down Washington Road from each other. Both have two campuses, a freshman campus, and a upperclassman campus. The Dog pound is located on the freshman campus of Waukgan High School. Waukegan is majority Latino, Warren has a mix of students. It's a so callled "friendly" rivalry in basketball. I'm sure it extends to other sports, but I know it for the basketball rivalry. Well another big time atmosphere is coming tomorrow night. Gym pictures courtesy of Michael O’Brien of the Chicago Sun Times.

I was in the Dog Pound 16 years ago in March 2009 for a Sectional Final of Warren Township (Gurnee) vs Waukegan. Warren had Illinois commit Brandon Paul who as a senior and ended up Mr Basketball that season. Waukegan had junior sensation Jereme Richmond who won Chicago Area Player of The Year by the Chicago Sun Times. He'd end up being one of only two guys to win the award twice. The other was Quinn Buckner of Thornridge in 1971 and 1972. Waukegan has junior point guard Mike Springs and junior Collin Nickerson.

It was Richmond's birthday and he also had the flu. It was a question whether he would be able to play that night. Not only for being sick but you have to go to school half the day to be eligible to play by IHSA standards. He accomplished getting to school but went home for some rest.

The game started with Warren going out to a 16-2 lead. Waukegan of course came back and took a 6 point lead in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was classic. 20 lead changes in the game, about 12 in that quarter alone. Big play after big play on both ends of the court. Waukegan goes up one point and one of the guards has a break away layup with about 16seconds left. He missed it and Warren gets the rebound, rushes up the court, timeout Warren with 8.6 seconds left. Ball inbounded and Paul shoots a three and gets fouled by Nickerson with 4.7 seconds left. Paul hits three of the most pressure free throws I've ever seen in my life. I'm in the stands hollering for Waukgean to call a timeout. No timeout was called, Waukegan throws it in to Richmond, who calmly dribbles to halfcourt, pulls up for a normal jump shot from half court. BOTTOMS!!!!! DELIRIUM AS WAUKEGAN FANS POUR OUT OF THE STANDS AND ALMOST CRUSHES RICHMOND!!!!!! Greatest high school game I've ever seen to this day.

I went to a summer league game last June at Warren Township (Gurren). It was Warren vs Waukegan. I have to say that is the most intense summer league game I've ever been to. It was INTENSE BIG TIME!!!! Both teams were defending at a high level, running the floor, trying alley oops, even a skirmish or two resulting in technical fouls for both teams. IN A SUMMER LEAGUE GAME!!!!! You'd have thought it was a sectional final lol. At that time I told a friend of mine "They'll play in the sectional final in March". Well here we are.

Tomorrow's matchup. Who becomes a legend in Lake County tomorrow night? Waukegan has won both regular season matchups and won a share of the North Suburban Title. Here are some key matchips

Sophomore Jaxson Davis (6'1") of Warren Township (Gurnee) vs junior Carter Newsome (5'10") of Waukegan:

These young men have played against each other since elementary school. Newsome knows every move Davis is going to make. I've watched these games the last two years, and Newsome usually does a decent job slowing Davis down. Davis will need a big game, not just scoring, but getting teammates involved and on defense. Newsome is also an offensive threat to score. Newsome hit a shot at the buzzer last night to beat Guilford (Rockford) to get to the title game. Controversy on the shot as it appeared the clock did not start right away.

Mismatch mightmare: Xavi Granville of Waukegan:

Granville (6'3" senior) is a Central (Grayslake) transfer. He has been the difference in the first two matchups as he's averaged around 20 a game in the two games. He scores on all three levels and has killed Warren on the glass this season. My thinking is Javerion Banks will be assigned to guard him. He's athletic enough, has quick hands, but not sure he has the size to stop Granvlle from posting up on the block.

X-Factors: Zach Ashburn:

6'8" senior is a star baseball pitcher for the Blue Devils. He has come on lately on the basketball court averaging a douyble/double in the last 10 games. He'll have to assert himelf offensively in the paint, rim protection, and on both backboards.

Jaali "Rico" Love, Waukegan):

6'7" junior wing will have to play within himself and control his emotions. He has West Side of Chicago toughness and has brought it to the North Suburbs and Lake County. Transfer from Manley (Chicago) has been steady all season, hitting the glass, using his athleticism to catch lob dunks to change momentum of games. Improvng three point shot but will have to be careful falling in love (no pun intended) with the shot in this game.

Javerion Banks, Warren Township (Gurnee):

6'1" senior guard is a King Of Bounce jumping jack, who can take it from the perimeter and dunk on you. He can also hit threes, and two dribble mad range jump shots. Defends at a high level and will block a shot or two. Is back from an injury and seems to have gotten his sea legs back.

The key players to the game. These two will have to play well and aggressive in order for their teams to win:

Simereon Carter, Waukegan:

6'5" wing is a King of Bounce who can also make a highlight reel play off the bounce, driving to the basket and putting someone on a poster. He can also drill threes at a high rate. He'll have to pick his spots to be aggressive and to back off and trust his teammates.

Braylon Walker, Warren Township (Gurnee):

6'0" junior combo guard will have to be aggressive looking for his offense. When he's not it makes it harder on his longtime running mate Davis. They've been a backcourt combo for years. He usually defers to Davis but he can't do that this game if Warren is to win. He's a very good defender and will have to defend without fouling.

Roll players:

Waukegan:

Junior Adrian Serrano (6'0") and senior DJ Cole (5'10) are both guards that play alongside Newsome and come off the bench to spell him. They defend at a high level and can score from three point range.

Seniors Jack Wolf (6'4) (#4) and Owen Squires (6'1) are both snipers from three point range. Wolf who's the quarterback on the football team, also hits the glass very well and is a starter. Squires is very good on catch and shoot threes, especially passes from Davis.

Big Tim plans on being in the house (AGAIN)!!! This is my second time this year watching this matchup, I was at the first one on January 28th, 2025. Waukegan won 68-65 with what was thought at the time a scoring controversy (score was correct. Waukegan won the first one 72-62 at Warren Township (Gurnee). Is the third time the charm for Warren Township (Gurnee). The saying in basketball is it's hard to beat a good team three times in a season. This will be hard for Waukegan to accompish this feat even in their house. Could overconfidence creep in? We'll see on tomorrow night. Should be a good one. Get...your....popcorn....ready.