MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- Jakobi Heady could certainly tell the difference. 

"We haven't played this good all year," said the 6-foot-6 sophomore after Wabash Valley's 98-72 Great Rivers Athletic Conference victory over Lake Land on Thursday night. "We played great." 

The win was in stark contrast to the first meeting between the two teams back in November, a five-point Laker win. 

Warrior coach Isaac Wodajo knows the reason. He has seen it nightly since Jan. 14th. His team is healthy and at full strength – for the first time all season. 

"At Olney, that's when we first had our full 11 guys back," Wodajo said. "I've seen the progress." 

Heady, who led the way with a career-best total of 35 points, called it "a desperate win" that snapped a two-game losing streak and improved the Warriors to 11-11 overall, and 4-6 in the GRAC. 

Granted, the two losses came in back-to-back road games against Top 10 opponents Vincennes and John A. Logan. 

Yet, Wodajo's club came out of it with heads held high. 

"Tuesday, we probably had our best practice of the season," the first-year WVC coach said. "Now, did I expect this (26-point win) tonight? No, but I did expect our guys to win because that was such a good practice. Guys were competing and talking positively." 

After Lakeland (12-10, 3-7) had built its' biggest lead of the night at 26-21, the Warriors began to turn things around with a 24-8 surge over the final eight minutes of the first half to take control by halftime, 45-34. 

Then, a 30-12 run to start the second half which ended with back-to-back flushes from Malik Madison put the hosts out of reach at 75-46. 

A Heady 3-point field goal took the margin to its' widest, 33 points (81-48), before the Lakers chipped away late. 

Heady played the game with a heavy heart, however, with the game coming one day after the eighth anniversary of the passing of his older sister, Shannise. 

"She played basketball. She taught me everything" said Heady of Shannise, who was eight years his elder. "I felt it tonight. She was in me." 

Gary Clay's total of 18 points was second to Heady in the Wabash Valley scorebook. Ksuan Casey added 12 points and Brandon Rayzer-Moore nine for the winners. 

Lake Land was led by Yassen Hussein's 13 points. 

The Warriors are back on the road on Saturday at Lincoln Trail (12-9, 5-4). Tipoff time is 3 p.m. CST.