LAKEVILLE - With seven players considered returning letterwinners, Nicholas Amor is set to begin his third season as the head girls basketball coach at LaVille High School. The official start of practice began about two weeks ago and Amor, his coaching staff, and the 2024-25 Lancers are working to improve on last year's 12-12 record. LHS also won the 2A North Judson Sectional championship and finished as regional runner-up, dropping a thrilling 31-26 2A Winamac Regional to Andrean. Among those set to return are seniors Mackena Deason, Brooke Edison, Jasmine Foster, and Mikalah Kuskye. Also back are junior Madison Singleton and Ava Weil, along with sophomore Dennilyn Markin. Unfortunately, LaVille will start the season at less than full strength. "... I don't have the full diagnosis' but for the foreseeable future Mikalah, Mackenna, Jasmine, and Faith are out with injuries," said Amor, who is 31-19 overall in Lakeville. Edison, a 5-foot, 8-inch forward, returns after leading LaVille with 10.5 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per outing, 4.7 steals/game, and 2.0 assists/game. Among other statistical leaders back are Foster, who returns after averaging 6.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, Kuskye was the team leader in assists (2.3) and second on the team in steals (2.3), and Weil, who chipped in with 5.5 ppg. Early on, Amor expects to, "... focus on getting healthy and bringing our underclassmen up to speed since they may be filling roles sooner than expected." Amor's club will participate in the Indiana Northern State Conference (INSC) along with Bremen, John Glenn, Jimtown, Knox, and Tippecanoe Valley. "I have 3 seniors (one senior potentially out until Christmas) battling injuries and one junior recovering from shoulder surgery and should be back to a full squad right before Christmas break. In the meantime my underclassmen will have to step into big shoes and meet the challenge. Our goal is always going to be the following, a winning record and competing in every game, no losses larger than a 15 point spread, and making a run in the postseason." With the change in conferences and new contracts, the Lancers welcome seven new opponents to the 2024-25 season schedule. New for the coming campaign will be Mishawaka Marian (3-20 a year ago), Tippecanoe Valley (19-4), South Bend Adams (14-11), North Miami (9-13), New Prairie (20-6), Lakeland Christian Academy (9-15), and Washington Township (11-12). According to Amor, it will be "a tough new conference this year and I feel as though Bremen and Tippecanoe Valley are the front runners. Bremen is an opponent that went to semi-state last year in 3A and is moving into our 2A sectional not losing much from last year. We will potentially see them 3 times this season." Amor's club did start the season by scrimmaging Lewis Cass Wednesday, October 30. The Kings won a Class 2A North Miami Sectional and Bellmont Regional in 2023-24. Both coaches were able to watch their players and how they responded to game-like play against a different opponent. Overall, Amor was pleased with the play of his team. "I thought the scrimmage went really well," said the third-year LaVille skipper. "We found out why we don't play very much in the zone defensively. The girls played in transition well against a team that is used to getting up and down the floor. Once we settled in I felt our inside game had multiple good looks. Mackena Deason hit quite a few big momentum shots for us and Denni (Markin) stepped right in with confidence to assist her teammates in transition. We need to get back to our roots defensively but I am confident we will get there. "This is a team that can be pushed mentally and physically. I like our athleticism and experience. Because this group has a foundation from 3 years in the program I really feel as though I can begin to expand upon their abilities and our strategy as a team!" J.T Beehler, Steve Cox, and Angie Dunlap return as LaVille assistants. In addition are junior Faith Mejer, sophomores Cloie Davis, Morgan Schmidt, and Savannah White. Newcomers include sophomore Paula Oneca, along with freshmen Sydney Williams, Cayde Pena, Belle Roper, Grace McBride, and Lexi Huff. Due to the success of the Mishawaka Marian girls soccer team, LaVille's scheduled opener against the Knights has been moved to November 16. The junior varsity is scheduled to tip at 11 a.m., with the varsity to follow. LaVille's opener will now be Nov. 9 at South Central (Union Mills). The JV is set for a 6 p.m. start, with the varsity to follow.