Jaxson Davis saw the shot clock only had a few seconds left, so he found some space and launched a quick three-pointer. It went in.
That was midway through the third quarter and gave the Warren junior 28 points. That’s a large point total for any high school basketball player, but Davis was just getting started. Something seemed to click with that basket.
On Warren’s next possession, Davis launched a three-pointer just steps after crossing the half court line. Swish.
Kenwood coach Mohammed Cookbey reacted quickly, calling a timeout in the hope of cooling down the state’s best basketball player. It was a smart move, but it didn’t work. Davis drained another three immediately after the timeout.
Davis finished with 51 points in Warren’s 88-54 win against Kenwood in the 52nd Big Dipper Holiday Tournament championship game, setting a tournament record.
“I would say that was my best game [of my high school career],” Davis said. “I’ve had some pretty good games, but from a hitting shots standpoint that was my best game.”
Davis isn’t just a shooter. He scored on steals and dunks, on drives to the basket and on turnaround jumpers in the post. There was a turnaround three pointer and more.
The large crowd in Richton Park now owns a special memory. As Davis progresses to college basketball and possibly the NBA, Tuesday’s performance at the Big Dipper will become part of his high school legend.
“I came out really calm” Davis said. “The holidays were good to me the last two years [at Proviso West]. I kept that in mind and just went out and played.”
Davis was 14-for-21 shooting and 7 of 9 from three. He also had eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.
“That was awesome and ridiculous,” Warren senior Joel Paasch said. “[Davis] can shoot from anywhere. It was 51 and efficient. That’s the best game I’ve ever seen him play, and I played with him growing up a little bit. That’s definitely the best game he’s ever played.”
Paasch scored 17 points and Braylon Walker added 13 points and five rebounds for the No. 9 Blue Devils (10-1).
This was Warren’s debut season at the Big Dipper. The Blue Devils won the Proviso West Holiday Tournament the last two years when Davis was a freshman and sophomore.
“We are doing pretty well since [the Pontiac Holiday Tournament] kicked us out,” Warren coach Zack Ryan said.
Warren led 37-30 after a strong second quarter from No. 18 Kenwood (10-2). Davis scored 16 consecutive points in the third quarter as the Blue Devils pulled away.
“I’ve seen [Davis] in travel ball,” Cookbey said. “It didn’t surprise me what he did. He was just being himself.”
Junior Osiris Bell led the Broncos with 18 points and Damari Stephens added 12 points.
“This was a good tournament for this young group,” Cookbey said. “We are starting to jell and find some chemistry.”
Warren lost to Benet in the Class 4A state championship last season. This is a different team, with Davis and Walker back but many new faces in the complementary roles. But the Blue Devils are starting to look like a team destined for Champaign.
“Everyone is improving,” Davis said. “[Paasch] can really hit shots and that is opening things up.”