LAKEVILLE - As LaVille's Michael Edison prepares for his 16th high school basketball season, there are some things that he knows. Edison knows that he will have three starters back for the 2023-24 season. He knows that his top three scorers return. And, he knows that his club is looking for some new guys to step up and fill available positions. "Every year, a new team, new identity, yes," Edison said when asked about the graduation losses. "Now you can't create that (identity) on your own, it just happens. You can't just think you are going to do this or go a certain way. Yeah, you can do that as a coach to a certain extent. But they are going to be their own team this year. And we just don't know where that is going to be. I've had teams where it looks optimistic and it doesn't turn out that way. And I've had teams that, oh, we are going to struggle, and the guys get that chemistry and they do well together." Collin Allen, Ryan James, Noah Rush, Owen Smith, and Ross Wagoner picked up their diplomas in June. But thre is a trio of players among a group of seven letterwinners returns back for what Edison says, 'let's call them the big three'. Leading the way is leading scorer Collin Czarnecki (19.2 points per game), followed by seniors Michael Good (11.9 ppg), and Lucas Plummer (10.9 ppg). "We do have some scorers coming back," said Edison, who is 215-134 all-time at LaVille. "We have Michael Good, Collin Czarnecki and Lucas Plummer. They are the three returning that have the most experience. After that we have some guys that will have to step up. It's not like we are going to have to be replacing all of our scoring. I know a lot of teams will be keying in on, like, Collin, but it will be our job to get the ball to Michael Good in key spots and Lucas Plummer where he will be successful. But coming up with some guys that do some of those Ryan James, Collin Allen-type things. Just some of those hard-nosed things. We are going to need some depth. We are waiting to see who emerges and see what takes place next week as we prepare for the season with some more practices." All three just joined the basketball team after an 11-win, sectional title-winning football season. "There is always a drop when you come from another sport, so we'll have to see," Edison said when asked how the returning players improved from a year ago. "We won't hit our stride until a few weeks into the season. But, confidence, I think anytime players have a couple of years under their belts and a person can feel a little more at ease with things. That will be a big key." Edison's squad finished 15-10 overall in 2022-23, including a 4-3 mark in the Hoosier North, in a roller coaster season. After losing their first two games last season, LaVille rattled off four straight victories. As the season moved toward Christmas break and opened 2023, the Lancers lost five straight against solid competition. John Glenn, Hebron, Westview, North Judson, and Knox all had winning records a year ago and LHS went from 4-2 to 4-7. It was James' lob pass to Good in the final three seconds of the game at Elkhart Christian Academy that helped LaVille to a 65-63 win and ignited a run of five straight wins and the 2023 TCU Bi-County Championship. Six wins over the final eight games and an opening round sectional win over Hebron helped the Lancers reach the sectional semifinal against Career Academy of South Bend. LaVille's season came to an unexpected end after the trail blazers upended LHS, 71-62. "It kind of was," Edison said when asked about the roller coaster season. "So much of that is kind of predicated on how you shoot the ball and teams that you play. We played some good teams and won and played some teams that we should probably beat and didn't. That is what is so neat about Indiana boys basketball is that you have to come ready every game. Upsets happen and you just have to be ready, be focused, and be intentional about what you do." As the season gets under way, it will be the final year in the Hoosier North. LaVille, along with Bremen, Jimtown, John Glenn, Knox and Tippecanoe Valley join together to make up the new Indiana Northern State Conference. Edison expects the HNAC to be competitive. "Some of those teams lost some players and I think it will be up in the air this year," Edison said when asked about a possible HNAC favorite. "Knox lost some key players and they had a good team last year. Triton will be on and I think Caston will surprise some people. They have some young guys coming in - they might be a couple years out - and anytime you play Winamac and Pioneer they play so hard. North Judson lost some key players, but they will have a good team. "I just don't know," Edison continued about the conference. "I'm not going to hang it out there on anyone. We've got to be ready for every conference game." As we chatted about the roster, Edison admitted that his squad is guard strong for the coming season. "We aren't going to have a lot of post players," said Edison. "We've only got a few. And Michael (Good) likes to be out on the perimeter. We've got to shoo him down. Probably the only post player is Braedyn Foster. Other than that we've got a lot of players wanting to be guards or having that guard mentality. So that will be the other key is figuring out positions and where people are going to fit it and figuring out roles. But, having Collin and Lucas at the guard position will help." With the delayed start to the 23-24 basketball season, LaVille will open November 30 at home against rival Bremen. Once the schedule gets started, the Lancers will play six games before Christmas, including at Argos, back-to-back HNAC games against Winamac and Pioneer, and close with home games against John Glenn and Hebron. Following Christmas break, Edison's club jumps right back into the fire. "After we play Hebron, we have 15 days off before our next game," said Edison. "Then we could play 8 games in 16 days. That is if we make it to the Bi-County championship game. Then we still have 9 games to finish the season before the sectional. "John Glenn and Bremen are a couple of our biggest rivals, we have Argos and I respect what Jason Breden has done, Tippecanoe Valley is really good, and I always think that any conference school will be good. But, you want to know who I think could be the best, Scot? Hebron. They have brothers, a senior and a sophomore, both at 6'7, and they have another player that is 6'5 and didn't play in the sectional. They have another shooter, so they are going to be tough." * * * * * LaVille Lancers Head coach: Michael Edison (215-134 in 16th season at LaVille) Assistants: Jack Edison, Luke Hillegonds 2022-23 record: 15-10 (4-3 in Hoosier North Athletic Conference) Letterwinners lost: Collin Allen, Ryan James, Noah Rush, Owen Smith, Ross Wagoner. Returning Letterwinners: Seniors - Michael Good, Lucas Plummer. Juniors - Cody Allen, Collin Czarnecki, Avery Garrett. Sophomores - Braedyn Foster Brayden Schwitz. Newcomers: Sophomores - Andre Gonzales, Chase Lee, Travis Madondo, Ryan Maenhout. Freshman - Lance Edison. Opener: Nov. 30 v. Bremen