AKRON - The LaVille basketball team gets back in action for a busy week ahead. Coach Michael Edison's club begins a 3-game week by visiting Tippecanoe Valley on January 9. The junior varsity game is scheduled to tip at 6 p.m., with the varsity to follow. LaVille is 4-4 overall after a 56-47 victory at North Judson-San Pierre on January 6. Collin Czarnecki, Michael Good, and Lucas Plummer hit for double figures and the Lancers converted 10 of 12 from the free throw line to move into sole possession of first place in the Hoosier North Athletic Conference. Tippecanoe Valley improved to 7-5 overall following a 45-44 victory over Plymouth.  The Vikings are 5-2 at home and average 54.8 points per game.  Tippecanoe Valley is 4-1 so far this season when scoring at least 54 points. Riley Shepherd leads the TV offense at 16.5 points per game.  Stephen Akase adds 15.7 points per outing, while Ian Cooksey chips in with 14.6 points per clip. Akase is also the top rebounder, hauling down 9.7 boards per contest. "Tippy Valley is an extremely good team!" Edison said when asked about Tuesday's opponent.  "They are a lot like Hebron in that they have size and they have shooters.  (Kyler) Johnson and Akase are both 6’6” and are very active around the boards. They both finished well and have a nice touch from the foul line.  They have a very scrappy point guard and have two excellent wing players who can shoot the lights out and Cooksey and Shepherd!  They have a nice press and half court trap and are very active defensively. They really like to go low to Akase as he posts extremely hard." Similar to LaVille, Tippecanoe Valley has three players that lead the team in scoring. "They have three players who are averaging about 15 points a game in Shepherd, Cooksey, and Akase," noted Edison.  "Akase is averaging almost a double double as he is a smidge under 10 rebounds a game.  Cooksey and Shepherd can get on fire from outside and can be very tough to stop." According to Edison, rebounding, limiting turnovers against the trap, and hitting some shots will be keys to a road victory to start the week. "We do have a very difficult week this week as we play Tippecanoe Valley tonight, a strong conference opponent in Knox on Friday, and a scrappy Elkhart Christian team," Edison said of the week ahead. "We will need to be focused and ready to compete at a high-level in all three matchups." LHS averages 51.1 points per outing and is 4-0 when scoring at least 51 points so far this season.  The Lancers allow 48.8 points per game on defense.  LaVille is off to a 3-0 start on the road so far in 2023-24, but will be tested by the Vikings, Redskins, and Eagles. Game on . . .  G A M E D A Y Teams: LaVille (4-4) at Tippecanoe Valley (7-5) Site: Tippecanoe Valley HS, Akron, IN. Tip: JV - 6 p.m. | Varsity - 7:30 p.m. Coaches: Michael Edison, 219-138 in 16th year at LaVille. Joe Luce, 25-11 in 2nd year at Tippecanoe Valley, 363-156 in 22nd year overall Last Outing: LaVille defeated North Judson-San Pierre, 56-47. Tippecanoe Valley defeated Plymouth, 45-44 Series: Tippecanoe Valley leads LaVille, 8-5 Last Meeting: Tippecanoe Valley defeated LaVille, 40-30, Nov. 26, 2022