Some nights, some games are destined to be special. On Friday in Waukegan, the stage was set in The Dog Pound, one of the state’s best gyms. The Class 4A sectional final between the host Bulldogs and Warren was sold out. Hundreds of fans waited outside in the cold rain more than an hour before tip-off.

Lake County legends surrounded the court: Two-time Sun-Times Player of the Year Jereme Richmond, Bryant Brown, Ceola Clark and Aaron Simpson. Former Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose, a state champion, was in the stands doing the radio broadcast.

It was a gritty, sloppy, intense game between teams that know each other too well. Waukegan took both regular-season matchups, but Warren pulled out a 70-60 victory in double overtime to win the sectional.

Warren’s Zach Ausburn was the hero. The 6-8 senior finished with 23 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks. He’s the only Warren player of significant size and was constantly warring with Waukegan’s long, athletic players.

“This game meant everything to me,” Ausburn said. “I wanted to get back to NIU to the supersectional and I was going to do whatever it took to get there. I was going to give up everything for this. Blood, sweat and tears.”

Both teams started slow, adjusting to the crowd intensity and the pressure of the moment. That tightness flared up again in the overtimes. Neither team scored in the first overtime. Warren took a 58-54 lead early in the second overtime on a dunk and free throw by senior Javerion Banks.

“It is hot and loud in here and the fans are on top of you,” Ausburn said. “It can get to you. But I tried to stay calm and keep to myself.”

Warren star sophomore Jaxson Davis had 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. He was blanketed all game by Waukegan senior guard Carter Newsome.

Davis’ three-point buzzer-beater at halftime was reminiscent of Richmond’s legendary game-winner in a Warren-Waukegan sectional final 15 years ago. That wasn’t a coincidence.

“It’s crazy,” Davis said. “I’ve been watching that shot [on YouTube] all week. I wanted a winner at the end of the fourth quarter so bad. But it feels good to pick up a win.”

Warren’s Jaxson Davis (1) shoots against Waukegan’s Simereon Carter (4) during the sectional championship game.

Banks finished with 15 points and eight rebounds and Jack Wolf added eight points and five rebounds for the Blue Devils (25-10).

Warren was one of the top teams in the area heading into the season, but Ausburn’s name was never mentioned.

“I did not expect this,” Blue Devils coach Zack Ryan said. “I thought he would be a piece for us this year but I did not expect an all-conference player and a regular double-double guy. It’s really a credit to him. He put in a lot of time in the offseason with our assistant coaches. Doing the Mikan drill. He really committed more to basketball this year and it has made a huge difference for us. He’s been consistent all year long.”

Newsome and Simereon Carter each scored 15 points for the Bulldogs (24-8). Waukegan used a 14-0 run to take a 41-39 lead with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

“Obviously there is a lot of history here,” Ryan said. “We knew we could do it. It’s been an up-and-down year but the guys stuck -together and found a way to win. I’m real proud of these guys.”

Warren will play Rolling Meadows, a 73-58 winner against Fremd, in the NIU Supersectional on Monday.