Warren Holds Off Lincoln Park To Earn Second Straight Championship
(Box Score) Warren held off a late rally from Lincoln Park to capture its second consecutive Proviso West Holiday Tournament championship with a 59-58 victory in a thrilling final on Saturday night.
Jaxson Davis led Warren (10-2) with 21 points, including a clutch 9-for-10 performance at the free-throw line. The sophomore guard’s free throws in the final minutes helped seal the win, despite a strong effort from Lincoln Park (13-3), which had led by as many as nine points in the third quarter.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with 10 lead changes and three ties. Lincoln Park had its best chance to pull away late in the third, when a pair of quick baskets from Ahmad Lee and Jaylen Dickerson helped the Lions build a 49-40 lead with 5:26 left in the period. However, Warren responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead heading into the final quarter.
In a dramatic finish, Lincoln Park’s Chayse Turner, who scored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, hit a jump shot with 2:11 remaining to give the Lions a two point lead. Jack Wolf answered with a three of his own on the following possession to give Warren the lead for good. Davis hit a critical three on the next Warren possession to push the lead to four, which was enough for Warren to hold off Lincoln Park.
Dickerson, who finished with a game-high 22 points for Lincoln Park, had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but his three-point attempt missed as the buzzer sounded.
Warren shot 34% from the field, including 28.6% from three-point range, but took advantage of its free-throw opportunities, finishing 17-of-22 (77.3%) from the line. Lincoln Park, shooting 45.5% from the floor, was 14-of-23 from the free-throw line (60.9%).
Despite the narrow defeat, Lincoln Park’s performance was marked by strong individual efforts from Dickerson, who also contributed 2 assists and 2 steals, and Turner, who added 11 points and 8 rebounds. Keyshawn Barfield chipped in 5 points and 8 rebounds.
The game also featured balanced scoring for Warren, with Jack Wolf adding 8 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds. The team’s depth and composure in the closing minutes were crucial in securing the title.
With the victory, Warren extended its dominance in the tournament, winning its second straight championship after last year’s triumph. Lincoln Park, while disappointed, earned its second consecutive runner-up finish.