LAKEVILLE - When 1968 LaVille graduate Carl Herbster stopped by a Lancer varsity basketball practice recently, his visit was two-fold. Yes, the longtime career scoring leader wanted to see the upgrades to Dale E. Cox Gymnasium. More importantly, though, the 'Lancer Legend' shared two pieces of advice to current players - Don't take any moment for granted and play not just for yourself, but for the community that is supporting you. Living outside the Lakeville-LaPaz area, Herbster was visiting northern Indiana for his granddaughter's wedding. In fact, now being a pastor, Herbster would be performing the ceremony just down the road. Back in the day, he was the first LaVille High School basketball player to surpass 1,000 points. His freshman and sophomore years, he was working and earning his way to more minutes. That was from 1965 to 1968! During Herbster's freshman year, he attended Lakeville, home of the Trojans, and just north of LaVille Jr-Sr High School by approximately five miles. The next year - 1965-66 - Lakeville and LaPaz consolidated into the present day LaVille Lancers. Herbster had tremendous success on the court during his junior and senior season for the Lancers, scoring over 1,000 points in his final two seasons.  In fact, during the 1967-68 season, LaVille won its very first basketball Bi-County tournament, followed by winning the school's first-ever sectional championship.  After starting the season with a 7-5 overall record, the Herbster-led Lancers won three straight, including a 61-59 win over Bremen in the title game.  LaVille also strung together a three-game winning streak to win the LaVille Sectional, also a first for the newly opened Lancers. Since 1968, six other Lancer basketball players have joined him in the 1,000 point club, including current LaVille junior Collin Czarnecki. Czarnecki reached the coveted scoring mark on a free throw in the Everwise Bi-County championship game. For Herbster, since his last visit to meet and pass the scoring torch on to 2015 graduate Blake Berger, Herbster has moved to Indianapolis. Over the past few years, Dale E. Cox Gymnasium underwent a huge renovation project.  That Cox Gym project, along with Czarnecki's recent accomplishment, sent Herbster, along with his son Mark, and the granddaughter's wedding, back to LaVille. As Herbster walked into Cox Gym, his face lit up in amazement. "I loved seeing the new Dale E. Cox Gym," explained Herbster, who held the career scoring record for 47 years.  "It brought back a lot of memories of practices and games of the past in the gym. It also reminded me of the fond memories I have of Coach (Dale) Cox who was my HS baseball coach (I was a catcher) and the athletic director. He was a great example to me and many others. "My favorite memory in the gym was when we won the first sectional tournament for LaVille in 1968," continued Herbster.  "I did miss the picture that used to hang in the gym of our championship team. Hopefully you have it stored somewhere in the building." The longer we roamed the near west side of Cox Gym, the more you could see those memories traveling through his mind. "The atmosphere in the gym was electric," continued the 'Lancer Legend.'  "The fans sat very close to the floor and I could hear people shouting my name during the game. Basketball was the main sport of the school and during that time the games were a major event in the local calendar. The place was packed most of the time. I loved playing before the hometown fans. Basketball was a unifying activity for Lakeville and LaPaz to rally around (I was from Lakeville) as we started the school consolidation process in Indiana." During his recent visit, Herbster was introduced by current head coach Michael Edison to the 2023-24 Lancer basketball team. He told stories from his days on the basketball team and later took pictures.  "I love talking to Coach Mike Edison and his dad Jack Thursday," explained Herbster.  "Jack remembers the sectional championship against Plymouth in 1968 since he was a new assistant coach for our competitors.  He was extremely complimentary at the practice last Thursday. I am glad they are also men of faith like the two of us. That was special to know since my biblical faith is so important to me (Hebrews 11:6). I also enjoyed talking to Collin who may soon become the all time scoring leader at LaVille. Of course I reminded him, as I had done also with Blake, that I didn’t have the 3-point shot when I was playing. The most I could get was 2 points at a time unless someone fouled me and I made the shot.   Both Blake and Colin were very kind and respectful to me. They are fine young men!" Head coach Michael Edison was excited to see Carl back in the area since his last visit to LaVille. "It was great to see Carl and catch up a little bit with both him and his son," Edison explained of the practice day visit.  "The last time I had seen him was when he came back to LaVille in 2015 to present something to Blake Berger after he broke his all time scoring record.  Even though we did not have a lot of time to just chat, it was neat hearing about his playing days and some of the memories he had while playing.  One thing that really stuck out to me was the way he remembered in detail his very last game he played as a Lancer in 1968.  He even appeared to tear up a little as he reminisced about his last game.  To me, it was very heartfelt and showed that the game of basketball was very important to him and he took it very seriously. " As the entire group made their way to the middle of the court, the more personal greetings took shape, including the meeting between Herbster and Czarnecki.  "It was an honor having Carl Herbster return home and visit our practice," Czarnecki said of the Lancer guest.  "It was great to just be able to hear from one of the LaVille greats.  It really stuck to the team and myself that we are living in some of the best times of our life and we are living through moments that we will remember forever.  It was awesome to hear Carl explain some of his most memorable moments that he still remembered while on the court in high school at LaVille." As Herbster shared, Michael Edison appreciated the look on the faces of the LaVille varsity basketball team. ". . . it was neat to see their faces and reactions as he spoke to them," said the Lancer head coach. "I know they appreciated his visit, but sometimes as a young kid it is tough to know what you have in front of you.  Carl is one of the all time Lancer greats and to have him come and meet with the team was very precious.  I know my dad and I could have stayed and talked to Carl and his son for hours as they were both very interesting to listen to." As Herbster and his son Mark closed their time at LaVille, it was a special moment in time for everyone associated with LaVille basketball to have the 'Lancer Legend' return. "I love having former players come back and visit with the team," concluded Michael Edison.  "Carl is one of those Mount Rushmore type of players that LaVille is proud to call one of its own!" Czarnecki made it clear that he and his Lancer teammates understood the message. "Carl Herbster had a great impact on our team," said the Lancer junior guard.  "We all learned to not take any moment for granted when you are doing the thing you love.  We also learned that playing basketball is for more than just ourselves, but also for the community which is always cheering us on. "For me, I was honored to be able to meet Carl because he has been in a position in the scoring records that I have been looking up to for a long time," he continued in his one-on-one chat.   "Also, for him to score so many points without a three-pointer is just astonishing.  I have seen his name on the walls of LaVille for years so it is an honor being able to meet someone who I have honored in person.  It was great to hear the support from him as well since I am very close to his record and he was happy to pass his position to me." Message received!