NORTH JUDSON - As the 114th annual Indiana High School Athletic Association moves into the sectional semifinal, LaVille is set to face a familiar opponent. The Lancers continue their pursuit of the first sectional championship since 2020 against Hoosier North rival North Judson. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in The Nest at North Judson Jr-Sr High School. The second semifinal pits South Central (Union Mills) against 2A #9 Hebron. Winners will advance to the North Judson Sectional #34 championship on March 2 at 7 p.m. For those that can not attend the game, please click IHSAA Champions Network (ihsaatv.org) Since LaVille coach Michael Edison's arrival in 2008-09, this will be the 17th time the Lancer and Blue Jays have met inside The Nest for either a regular season or state tournament event. Even prior to NJSP and LHS joining the Hoosier North, the two squads have met for over 30 years. In the state tournament, North Judson owns an 11-5 advantage in the series. "We have had a lot of battles against North Judson over the years," Edison said when asked about the familiarity. "They have a great history of some amazing teams and they play with a lot of pride. I expect them to be ready to go against us. It should be a great game on Friday night." North Judson has won 22 sectional titles, including the last two consecutive sectional crowns, and are 8-1 in the sectional round since coach Kent Chezem arrived on campus in 2020-21. "There is always a home court advantage when a team is playing at home," Edison noted about playing at NJSP. "I do not think it will be an insurmountable obstacle, but North Judson will have more fans than us and they are used to playing there more than we are. We just need to have the right focus level and be ready to battle for 32 minutes." This will be North Judson's first game in the sectional after drawing a bye via the IHSAA draw. Chezem's team is 13-9 overall following a 63-43 loss to Kankakee Valley on February 23 to close the regular season. They are led by 6'4" senior Quinn Bales, 6'0" classmate Connor Benson, and 6'0" junior Kole Wilcox. In the January 6 meeting, Bales led NJSP with 18 points, Benson had 12, and Wilcox 6. Jesiah McDaniel, a 6'0" junior, chipped in 10 points. "On offense they really look to keep the Bales involved in their offense. He is their go to guy and will be posted up at times and will also step out on the perimeter. They run a lot of a wheel type of offense where they get back screens followed by a down screen to keep the action moving. On defense they like to run more a man-to-man pack line defense. They really pack it in and try to keep teams from penetrating into the lane. "Bales, Wilcox, and Benson are a few of their key players. Bales is an inside out type of player, Benson runs the point a lot of the time, and Wilcox is their best post player. Anyone of them can hurt an opponent so we need to be ready for what they are trying to do. We essentially just need to do our best to make them earn every point they get." So does Edison put much weight in the January 6 meeting? "Beating them earlier in the year really does not mean anything as each game takes a different path and is unique all on its own," Edison said. "We will have to be ready to play our best on Friday night or North Judson will beat us. It will be an exciting game and our guys are ready to go." Edison's crew is 13-11 overall after a 61-32 victory over Career Academy in the IHSAA quarterfinal Tuesday. "I was happy with the way our guys played defense," Edison explained. "And the way we shot the ball from beyond the arc. "Keys to a Lancer victory Friday will be to contain Bales, knock down shots, and get deflections and come up with loose balls." Winners of Friday's semifinals advance to the North Judson Sectional title game on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET Remember to join LVH1 for the coverage of the LaVille-North Judson game. Air time is 6:15 p.m. Steve Cox (play-by-play) and Bob Harvey (color/analyst) will be on the call. Game on. GAMEDAY IHSAA 2A SECTIONAL #34 At North Judson High School Semifinal #1 LaVille (13-11) at North Judson (13-9) WHEN: 6:30 PM ET WHERE: The Nest, North Judson High School COACHES: Kent Chezem, 65-33 in 4th year at North Judson, 384-279 in 29th year overall. Michael Edison, 228-145 in 16th year at LaVille LAST OUTING: North Judson lost to Kankakee Valley, 63-43. LaVille defeated Career Academy South Bend, 61-32 SERIES: North Judson leads LaVille, 26-16 LAST MEETING: LaVille defeated North Judson, 56-47, January 6, 2024 ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: North Judson leads LaVille, 3-0 WATCH/LISTEN: https://www.ihsaatv.org/?B=984006 (LVH1 - Steve Cox, play-by-play), Bob Harvey (color/analyst) Semifinals #2 South Central (Union Mills) (10-11) v. 2A #9 Hebron (22-2) WHEN: 8:00 PM ET WHERE: The Nest, North Judson High School COACHES: Matty Bush, 10-11 in 1st year at South Central. Mike Grennes, 95-66 in 7th year at Hebron. LAST OUTING: South Central lost to Westville, 70-56. Hebron defeated Wheeler, 68-37 SERIES: Hebron leads South Central, 30-12 LAST MEETING: Hebron defeated South Central, 72-44, January 5, 2024 ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT SERIES: South Central leads Hebron, 1-0