All eight Little Illini Conference boys basketball teams played somewhere during the holiday break, and even as 2026 dawns the schedule does not let up as we move closer to the resumption of the conference race later next week.

Lawrenceville (14-1), ranked second in one Class 1A listing, played at the Effingham/Teutopolis Christmas Classic. The Indians suffered their first setback after a 13-0 start in a 12-point loss to Tolono Unity in the semifinals, but bounced back to finish in third place with a 76-74 victory over Champaign Centennial on New Year’s Eve. Newton (6-6) was in the field there as well (with pool round games played at both sites and the finals all at Effingham). The Eagles lost their finale to Effingham, 61-57, on Wednesday to finish off a 1-3 week.

Casey-Westfield (9-3) also had an extended unbeaten streak to open the season. Though Mt. Zion snapped the streak at eight games prior to Christmas, the Warriors lost two more against Indiana opposition at the Wabash Valley Tournament in Terre Haute before closing with a 56-45 win over Shakamak on Monday. Marshall (4-6) also played in that tourney. The Lions lost their first two games before downing South Vermillion, 57-34, in the consolation round on Monday.

Robinson (6-8) claimed third place at the Dieterich Holiday Tournament with a 53-50 victory over Red Hill on Monday. The Maroons won three of four games there, a marked improvement over the seven-game losing streak they carried into the affair.

Olney (7-9) and Mt. Carmel (6-8) were both in Pinckneyville at the Duster Thomas Classic. Olney lost to Christopher, 46-45, on Tuesday in the 11th-place game, while Mt. Carmel fell to Chester, 46-41, in the 13th-place game.

Paris (8-7) finished with a 4-1 record at the Kansas/Tri-County Holiday Tournament, a six-team round-robin affair. The Tigers defeated Martinsville, 43-10, in their final game on Tuesday.

Here is the weekend schedule ahead:

Friday, Jan. 2
OPH at Casey-Westfield, 7:30 p.m.
Olney at Flora, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3
Casey-Westfield at Tuscola, 2:00 p.m.
Tolono Unity at Paris, 2:30 p.m.
Charleston at Newton, 7:00 p.m.
–All times CST.

This story will be edited as more information becomes available. The LIC standings table is yet to be updated. All season records listed are from Massey.