NORTH JUDSON, IN. - It's time for Hoosier Hysteria! The 113th edition of the Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball tournament is set to tip off. LaVille will open the 2023 IHSAA state tournament against Hebron. The two met during the 2022-23 regular season with the Hawks claiming a 60-47 victory. Hebron's Landen Hale and Skylar Martin led the offensive attack with 18 points each. Josh Kenda added 11 points for Hebron, which led at every break. According to LaVille head basketball coach Michael Edison, Hebron may be without one of its top players. "The way I understand it, Landen Hale was injured several weeks back and has not been in their lineup since," Edison said of the 6-foot-5 junior forward. "After talking to a couple of different coaches I do not believe he will be playing in the tournament. If he does play he is a big challenge as he is 6'5" and is an inside and outside player and is their best all around player." Hale got Hebron off to a solid start in that December game at Hebron. The Hawks are 8-7 since playing LaVille. In that December 21 game, LHS trailed by eight at halftime but was able to make a run to start the third quarter and take a 34-33 lead. Collin Allen and Lucas Plummer were instrumental during that rally. Plummer finished with 17 and Allen eight. "This was the first game back for Lucas and he did step up offensively for us," Edison recalled of that first matchup with Hebron. "(Trever) Roy did a great job on Collin Czarnecki and really pestered him throughout the game. Collin Allen played well both defensively and offensively, giving us a spark off the bench. We will need both Collin and Lucas to have solid games for us if we are to have a chance against Hebron." It's been said that it's hard to beat a team twice in the same season, so LaVille has another shot Tuesday night in the opener of the IHSAA state tournament. "It is always hard to beat a team twice," explained Edison. "But it will come down to which team is more focused and ready to go. The Kenda brothers (Josh and Ben) are playing very well right now and are tough down in the paint. We will need Michael Good and Collin Allen to play tough defense against them. Also, (freshman Peter) Socci, #30 for them, has been shooting the ball very well lately. He had 5 or 6 three pointers in one of their recent games so we will have to keep him contained." LaVille outshot Hebron by 20 shots in the first encounter and had four less turnovers, so LaVille definitely had opportunities but the shots just would not fall. "The biggest difference was that we missed shots and they made shots," said Edison. "We need to get Czarnecki open more in this game and we will need other players to step up and give us some quality minutes." Plummer hit for 17 points in that first battle. Allen added 10, Czarnecki nine, and Good eight. According to Edison, there are several keys to the Hebron game this time around. "Minimizing the post play by Kenda and keeping him from getting easy looks," concluded the Lancer coach. "Minimizing Hebron's second chance points, running Socci off the 3 point line and ball pressure on defense." Hebron shoots 28-percent from 3-point range, with sophomore Aidan Bowgren the top long range threat. HHS shoots 61-percent from the free throw line as a team and Josh and Ben Kenda are the top rebounders. They average 51.5 points per game and are 7-4 this season when scoring 51 points or more. The Hawks allow 47.9 points per outing. LaVille scores 55.0 ppg and are 10-1 when scoring 55 or more points in a game. The Lancer defense allows 52.0 ppg. The winner will get Career Academy in the second semifinal on Friday, March 3 at approximately 8 p.m. The first semi features South Central (Union Mills) against either Wheeler or NJSP. Game On . . . . G A M E D A Y 2A Sectional #34 At North Judson-San Pierre Quarterfinal Game #1 Teams: Wheeler (3-19) v. North Judson-San Pierre (20-3) Where: The Nest, North Judson-San Pierre High School Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Coaches: Byron Faulstich (3-19 in first year at Wheeler). Kent Chizem (49-23 in third year at North Judson; 368-269 in 28th year overall) Last Outing: Wheeler lost to Hobart, 44-23. North Judson defeated Kankakee Valley, 48-47 Series Last 35 Years: Tied, 9-9 Last Meeting: North Judson defeated Wheeler, 60-54, Feb. 19, 2019 All-Time Tournament Series: North Judson leads Wheeler, 1-0. Quarterfinal Game #2 Teams: LaVille (14-9) v. Hebron (12-10) Where: The Nest, North Judson-San Pierre High School Time: 8:00 p.m. ET Coaches: Michael Edison (214-133 in 15th year at LaVille). Mike Grennes (73-63 in sixth year at Hebron) Last Outing: LaVille defeated Lighthouse CPC, 79-67. Hebron defeated Hammond Science and Tech, 72-46 Series Last 35 Years: Tied, 1-1 Last Meeting: Hebron defeated LaVille, 60-47 All-Time Tournament Series: LaVille leads Hebron, 1-0