Boys Basketball: Warren coasts past Lakes

Updated: January 14, 2012 11:23PM

Believe it or not, Warren coach Chuck Ramsey really did show some mercy toward Lakes on Saturday night.

Though the Blue Devils won the game by 30 points — 77-47 — to improve to 12-2 on the season, it could have been much worse.

In fact, for a while there, it was.

With 2:32 left in the third quarter, Warren led 62-21. At that point, the last of Warren’s starters went to the bench for good, and next year’s Blue Devil starters got a good workout.

“We got off to a good start. We played pretty well defensively in the first half and into the third quarter,” Ramsey said. “I thought we moved the ball well, the kids played well together, and now we move on.”

It was nice weekend for Warren, which routed highly-regarded Libertyville by 19 on Friday.

“We’re making good progress. We’re playing with a little more purpose and we’re getting a little more transition offense,” Ramsey said.

“The big thing is to keep improving.”

Darius Paul was Warren’s leading scorer against Lakes with 16 points. Nathan Boothe had 13 markers, and Mitch Munda had eight points, five assists and six rebounds.

For Lakes (11-7), Jacob Brown had 10 points.

Lakes played without starters Direll Clark, Andrew Spencer and Jay-Jay Elvir.

The trio sat for an undisclosed violation of school policy. They also will miss upcoming games against Wauconda and Round Lake.

“It’s already a tall order playing against them. It’s even tougher when you’re shorthanded like we were tonight,” said Lakes coach Chris Snyder. “Our guys played hard and competed, but there were some times we didn’t play as hard as we could.

“It’s still a long season. There’s a lot to play for.”

Lakes is second in the North Suburban Prairie and could win the division if North Chicago stumbles at all.

Warren will play at Lake Zurich on Friday.

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