Four basketball teams will get to share the Christmas love this holiday season as fully half the league is still undefeated at this early juncture of the LIC boys basketball race. On Friday, the final night of league play before the holiday, Lawrenceville, Newton, and Olney all won to improve to 2-0, one step ahead of Casey-Westfield’s 1-0 mark. Two of those teams are still perfect overall: Lawrenceville (10-0) and Casey-Westfield (8-0).
There was another milestone reached on Friday. Casey Thomann, Olney’s 6-foot-8, 325-pound inside force, surpassed the 1,000-point mark with a third-quarter bucket in a 60-28 victory over visiting Paris. He becomes the 21st Tiger athlete to reach that plateau in what became a truly rare occurrence at the school this week. Just one night earlier, Lady Tiger standout Kelysse Weiler also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, also during a home game.
Lawrenceville defeated Marshall, 58-44, to remain undefeated on the season. Zander Cessna led the Indians with 18 points, followed by Noah Wilson’s 15. Marshall’s Payton McGuire, who had recorded the top LIC scoring game to date with 40 points against OPH on Tuesday, was held in check with 16 points. However, the Lions’ Garrett Pugh turned a double-double against Lawrenceville, with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Newton built a 14-point lead by halftime and went on to defeat Robinson, 59-51. With the win, the Eagles joined Lawrenceville and Olney atop the LIC standings, with a 2-0 league mark.
Casey-Westfield stepped outside of the league on Friday against visiting Fairfield. The Warriors prevailed, 48-40, to improve to 8-0 on the season.
