Revenge was sweet, but there are at least two more games to go before the Cavaliers exorcise their 2009 playoff demons.

Lake Travis (30-5) beat LBJ Monday night 66-56 in the third round of the state basketball playoffs to advance to the Region IV tournament in San Antonio, avenging a last-second loss to the Jaguars in the region final last year.

“I think this game was a perfect representation of what we are as a team,” Cavalier point guard David Eads said. “It wasn’t exactly the prettiest game. We scored eight points in the first quarter, but we still came out with a victory in the end.”

It was especially sweet for Eads, who personally shouldered blame for last year’s loss. But even after that loss, Lake Travis head coach Jan Jernberg believed in the potential of the players that were coming back.

“This was the goal all year,” he said. “After the loss to LBJ last year, Coach Jernberg walked into the locker room and the first words he said were, ‘We’ll be back.’ So we’ve had that in the back of our minds, and we did get back. It’s a good feeling.”

There was a brief moment in the closing seconds, though, where it appeared that history might repeat itself.

With eight seconds left and the game tied at 51-51, Eads lost his handle on the ball and watched it skip out of bounds.

Jernberg immediately worried.

“I’m thinking, ‘Oh no. Here we go. Don’t let it happen this way. Don’t let it be on his shoulders again,’” Jernberg said. “Fortunately, it worked out and he was tough down the stretch.”

It would turn out that LBJ had just as much trouble, losing control of the ball with just under two seconds left and then missing a last second shot to win.

From there, Lake Travis cruised, thanks in part to the absence of four LBJ starters, who had all fouled out before the final minute of regulation.

Lake Travis starters Billy Sherakas and Zach Karczewski had also fouled out, but the Cavs had the clear advantage and they knew it.

“There was no doubt in my mind at that point,” Jernberg said. “We had them where we wanted them.”

Lake Travis absolutely cruised through overtime, outscoring the Jaguars 15-5 and making 11 of 12 free throw attempts. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 6-0 run to start the extra frame, and LBJ panicked, throwing up consecutive shots from distance that were well off and the Jaguar fans started heading for the exit with over three minutes to play.

It was a stark contrast to the first 30 minutes of the game, which LBJ flat-out dominated. The Jaguars led 13-8 after the first quarter and at one point, pushed the lead to 19-8 before a dramatic 12-2 run made it 21-20 in favor of the Jaguars at the break.

LBJ went on a 14-5 run in the third quarter, and appeared to have fended off the only run Lake Travis was going to make.

“I was concerned. How could you not be?” Jernberg said. “I knew they needed to foul us and we needed to hit the free throws to get back in the game.”

It was the only way the Cavs would get back in the game, and the Jaguars opened that door.

“[LBJ] is so aggressive and sometimes they can’t control it,” Jernberg said. “We stayed in the game because of the fouls at the end of the first half, and in the second half they came out and smacked us early, but again, they started fouling.”

Lake Travis has been anything but consistent at the free throw line this year, but the Cavs made plenty when it counted against the Jaguars. They methodically chipped away at the lead with a ton of free throws and a few big shots. None of the free throws were bigger than two by Chris Dash to tie the game at 51-51.

Jernberg tipped his hat to a team that has kept the Cavaliers on edge for nearly a year now.

“They’re so aggressive and they’re so, so quick,” he said. “We felt like last year if it had not been for one or two players, we could have won it going away, but they hung around and got us. This year they don’t have quite the same size and we’re a lot bigger. I think that helps.”

Helped enough this time, anyway.

“I just want people to realize that 358 days ago we said we’d be back,” Jernberg said. “All year long we’ve kept saying it. And tonight we made sure of it. We’re back and it’s the sweetest thing in the world.”

But they don’t want it to end with a third round win. The goal is to get to the state tournament. That hasn’t changed.

“After we win two more games,” Eads said. “I’ll be excited.”

The Cavs take on Gregory Portland Friday in the Region IV semifinal at 6 p.m. at North East ISD in San Antonio. The winner will play for a ticket to state on Saturday at 1 p.m. against the winner of Kerrville Tivy vs. S.A. Harlandale.