LAKEVILLE, IN. – After struggling through a third-quarter shooting slump, it was a corner lay up by LaVille’s Madelyn Fuchs that sparked what turned a 19-12 deficit into a 35-31 victory for the Lancers Thursday at Dale E. Cox Gymnasium.
On a night that started with a junior varsity victory, followed by the rededication ceremony for Cox Gym, the varsity Lancers rallied to get first-year coach Daniel Pleninger his first ‘W’
“The girls saw someone do something good and that inspired them to do something good,” said Pleninger. “We were 0-for-something there in that third quarter. Madelyn hit the corner lay-up and we stepped up our defense.
“We talked in the huddle about how we had to pick up the intensity on defense,” continued Pleninger. “We got some deflections and caused them to turn the ball over.”
The Lancers began to peck away at the Jimtown lead before tying the game early in the fourth quarter.
“Enthusiasm built more enthusiasm,” said Pleninger. “Not just the bench, but the fans as well.”
What was the difference?
“We just started talking on the court,” continued Pleninger. “It was more than a side conversation. We were making sure we knew what our job was. Communicating on every single possession.”
Freshmen Lucy Sherk came off the bench to lead LaVille with 11 points, while junior Allison Medors scored career-high nine points.
“Those two have been vocal leaders in practice,” explained Pleninger of his post players. “I was hoping they would have big games. That third quarter they decided to talk to each other. It was team basketball, especially there late in the third quarter and the fourth quarter.”
Starting the season off with a come-from-behind victory for the varsity and a sweep on Cox rededication night seemed to top things off for Pleninger.
“It feels good,” said Pleninger of getting his first ‘W’. “Some pressure is off now. But it wasn’t me. It was definitely the girls tonight. They played hard and found a way in the fourth quarter.”
LaVille (1-0) will play host to state-ranked South Central (Union Mills) Saturday, November 9. The JV game is set to tip at 6 p.m., with the varsity to follow.

LAVILLE 35, JIMTOWN 31
At Lakeville
Jimtown 2 12 19 31
LaVIlle 2 10 12 35
Jimtown – Farkas 1, Sandoval 0, C. Gates 10, Folkers 2, Lawson 15, Sandoval 0, Burkhart 3, Snider 0. Totals; 12 4-8 31
LaVille – Gonzalez 0, Fuchs 5, Beehler 0, Giles 5, Dove 3, Watts 0, Sherk 11, Medors 9, Tribbey 2, Lindke 0. Totals: 12 10-21 35
3-point field goals: Jimtown 2 (Lawson, Burkhart), LaVille 1(Dove).
Total fouls (fouled out): Jimtown 23 (Farkas, J. Sandoval), LaVille 14 (none).