(LAWRENCEVILLE) — Never mind that Casey-Westfield had an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter on Friday night. Lawrenceville had the Warriors right where they wanted them.

The second-ranked (Class 1A) Indians staged yet another dramatic rally, scoring the final 10 points of the game for a 48-41 Little Illini Conference basketball victory over Casey-Westfield. The win clinched a title sweep for Lawrenceville (6-0 in league play, 25-2 overall), which had already won the LIC tournament last month with a — wait for it — second-half turnaround against the Warriors. Now, they’ve added the regular-season crown.

“We have (rallied) numerous times this year. The kids are so resilient,” said Lawrenceville coach Tad Shick. “But, I wish we could start games fast.”

The last time these two met, Lawrenceville turned things around in the third quarter. Friday, however, the game hung in the balance until much later. Casey-Westfield (4-2, 17-10) held a 41-38 lead with three and a half minutes left, when the Warrior basket suddenly closed down for the night. Still it was 41-all when Jayden Goff went inside for a bucket plus and-1 at 0:58 to put the Indians ahead to stay, 44-41.

Lawrenceville did indeed start the game on a brighter note this time around, carrying a 16-13 lead into the second frame. But the Warriors shined during that eight-minute stretch, outscoring  Lawrenceville 11-2 to take a 24-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“Casey-Westfield made us feel uncomfortable,” Shick said. “They took us out of some stuff we wanted to do offensively, and were physical with us. It really bothered us.”

Though better known for an above-the-rim offense, it was Lawrenceville’s defense that made the difference down the stretch, forcing two Warrior turnovers in the game’s final minute.

“In the first half we were not pressing the ball like I wanted to see. So at halftime, that’s what we discussed,” Shick said. “We didn’t really change our scheme very much, but what we did was put more pressure on the ball, and that affords us to get into the passing lanes.”

Noah Wilson led a balanced Lawrenceville attack with 16 points. Goff added 14 points, with Zander Cessna tacking on 12.

Said Shick: “At times I think we’re tough to scout because of (a balanced attack), but then again our role players have really improved throughout the year.”

Casey-Westfield was led in scoring by Leighton Jones with 13 points. Guard Jackson Julius scored 12 points — all from beyond the arc line.

Lawrenceville seems to thrive in the nervous environment of tightrope walking. Even Shick wonders how they get it done. But, he has an idea.

“I don’t really know where they find it. I guess they’re in really good shape, because they all look gassed out there,” he said. “Sometimes, when you’re really fatigued and exhausted, you can feel that adrenaline hit you and you can go as hard as you can for another two minutes.”

The Indians can close out an undefeated LIC finish with a win at Paris (0-6, 11-16) on Friday.