BOURBON - As the 2023-24 high school basketball regular season moves into the final three weeks, the LaVille Lancers are smack in the middle of a conference race. Coach Michael Edison's club puts its unbeaten Hoosier North record and first-place standing on the line against 1A #10 Triton, also undefeated in HNAC play, and tied with LHS at the top of the standings. The state-ranked Trojans are 12-4 overall and 4-0 in the HNAC following a 53-21 victory over Trinity Greenlawn. Coach Jason Groves' team averages 51.6 points per game and has a 10-1 record in games when the Trojans score at least 51 points.  On defense, Triton allows 41.6 points per outing, which places them 18th in the state regardless of class.  THS is 7-0 when allowing 41 points or less so far this season.0 "Triton has a very good record and has been playing very well lately," Edison said as his squad preps for the 74th meeting all-time against Triton.  "They’re undefeated in our conference and play with a lot of confidence in each game I have seen." According to Edison, the Trojans are expected to run a man-to-man defense and sometimes mix it up a little bit with some half court traps, some pressing, and a little bit of zone sprinkled in here and there." The Trojan Trench is much like a 6th-man to Triton again this season.  The Trojans are 8-1 so far in home games. "Jason Groves does a great job as a coach," Edison said when asked about why it's difficult for the opposition to play at The Trench.  "He always has his teams well prepared, and they play with a lot of confidence." LaVille and Triton have split the last 10 meetings at 5-5, though the Trojans lead the series 13-10 since Edison took over.  THS also leads the all-time series, 44-29. "Triton has a great tradition and they have always been a very tough opponent for us," noted Edison.  "It is always one of our most competitive games of the year." Leading the way for Triton will be senior Dante Workman, junior Jacob Pitney, and sophomores Gage Riffle and Julan Swanson. "Probably all of them!" Edison said of Triton players to keep an eye on.  "Swanson, Riffle, Pitney, and Workman can light it up from the outside . . .  They are all just great basketball players! "They have three or four really good three point shooters so we can’t let them get good looks, We need to run them off the line and force them to beat us in some other area.  We also need to execute on the offensive end." LaVille enters Friday's match up against Triton at 8-8 overall following two straight losses - 59-43 to La Lumiere Regional and 45-43 at West Noble. Collin Czarnecki, Michael Good, and Lucas Plummer continue to lead LaVille. Saturday's non-conference game between Whitko and LaVille has been moved to earlier in the day.  Due to the LaVille girls' basketball team playing in the Winamac Regional, the boys junior varsity game will now tip at 11 a.m., with the varsity game to follow. Game on. GAMEDAY Teams: LaVille (8-8) at 1A #10 Triton (12-4) Site: Trojan Trench, Bourbon, IN. Tip: JV - 6pm | Varsity - 7:30pm Coaches: Michael Edison, 223-142 in 16th year at LaVille. Jason Groves, 318-142 in 19th year at Triton Last Outing: LaVille lost to West Noble, 45-43. Triton defeated Trinity Greenlawn, 53-21 All-Time Series: Triton leads LaVille 44-29 Last Meeting: LaVille defeated Triton, 51-35, Feb. 10, 2023 HOOSIER NORTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Basketball Standing                                    HNAC   O-ALL LaVille                         4-0        8- 8 Triton                          4-0     12- 4 Knox                            3-2       5- 9 Caston                         2-2       8- 9 Pioneer                        2-3       6-11 Culver Community    1-3       7- 7 North Judson            1-4     11- 6 Winamac                    1-4      8-11 FRIDAY, FEB. 9 Knox at Tippecanoe Valley LaVille at Triton North Judson at Caston Pioneer at Culver SATURDAY, FEB. 10 Whitko at LaVille Knox at Oregon-Davis