Boys Basketball

(CHAMPAIGN) — The success of Lawrenceville High School’s boys’ basketball team at the IHSA State Finals is well-documented, but the 2025-26 Indians have added their own page to that storied history.

Lawrenceville (35-3) earned its seventh state trophy in program history Thursday, as the Indians finished third with a 61-43 win over Lanark Eastland in the third-place game of the IHSA Class 1A State Finals at State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Following a 55-47 loss to Goreville in the semifinals Thursday morning, the Indians rebounded in their final game of the season later that night, leading for most of the contest after not leading at all in their previous game.

After a back-and-forth start to the game, Lawrenceville grabbed an 11-6 lead following back-to-back three-pointers from Jacek Mickiewicz and Zander Cessna, but Eastland scored the next five points to even the score before Mickiewicz nailed another three at the buzzer to give the Indians a 14-11 lead.

Lawrenceville then scored the first four points of the second period to extend their advantage to 19-11 and went on to outscore Eastland 14-4 in the period to make the score 28-15 at halftime.

The Indians held off an early Eastland surge in the third quarter and stretched their lead to as many as 18 before another Eastland run cut the margin to eight before a Cessna three-point play in the closing seconds gave the Indians a 44-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The margin got no closer in the final period, as Lawrenceville held Eastland at bay and the final 18-point margin was the biggest of the game for the Indians.

“This is a tough game to play in coming off a loss in the semifinals,” LHS head coach Tad Shick said. “But these kids really responded. I was really impressed with their effort and can’t say enough about what they have accomplished.”

Four players reached double figures in the balanced LHS attack, led by Cessna with 18 points, three steals, two rebounds and one assist, while Mickiewicz posted 12 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and one blocked shot. Jayden Goff contributed 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals, Noah Wilson totaled 11 points, six steals, three rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, Emery Ivers recorded five points, three rebounds and two assists and Issac Vennard tallied three points and one rebound.

Parker Krogman led Eastland with 13 points, while Zyacn Haverland and Perry Stoner were also in double figures with 10 points apiece.

The win brought an end to a historic run for this tribe of Indians, which should be considered as one of the best in school history.

Even though they were unable to capture a fifth state title, the Indians accomplished all of the goals they set out to accomplish this season – and more.

“We set goals to win the Capital Classic, the Little Illini Conference (regular season and tournament) and a Sectional,” Shick said. “I felt like anything else after that would be considered icing on the cake, but these kids were able to exceed even my expectations.”

Not only did they accomplish all of those things, they also set a school record for wins in a season with 35 and have continued to over 100 wins in their high school careers.

“These seniors have had a pretty good run,”Shick said. “They also brought pride back to this program and brought a community together.”

This historic run almost didn’t happen, as Shick was ready to step away two years ago after a stint as an assistant coach. But, when the head coaching position opened, the players implored Shick to stick around and lead them.

“The kids texted me and said you can’t leave us and we need you to lead the way,” Shick said. “They are the reason why I am here today.”

It was also a full circle moment for Shick, as it was one day shy of 50 years ago when Shick was a fan watching the 1976 Indians finish third and Jay Shidler break the scoring record.

“I remember coming here to watch those games and sitting in the last row,” Shick said. “Today I got to sit on the first row, so that was pretty cool.”

In addition to the team accolades, several Indians received individual postseason honors, including the entire starting five making the All-LIC teams.

Goff, Wilson and Cessna were First Team selections, Mickiewicz made the Second Team and Ivers was on the Honorable Mention list.

In addition, Goff was a First Team Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State selection, while Cessna was tabbed to the Second Team.

It was a fitting end to a run full of highlights and accomplishments and while those five seniors, along with classmates Aiden Winningham, Hunter Gray, Eli Eagleson, Cash Grove and Kain Swanson, may have donned a Lawrenceville uniform for the last time, their contributions will live on alongside the rest of the Indian greats that came before them.