La Porte, Ind. — In Indiana, basketball isn't just a sport it's part of the state's identity. The La Porte Invitational is one of those weekends that reminds you why. Held inside the historic La Porte Civic Auditorium, the fifth annual event pulsed with pure Hoosier Hysteria from the opening tip to the final horn. Over the course of 12 games, fans were treated to elite national talent wrapped in a distinctly Indiana atmosphere. As the familiar saying goes, "In 49 states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana."
That feeling wasn't just inside the gym, it was everywhere. The original team bus from the movie Hoosiers was parked outside, a rolling monument to the state's basketball mythology. Inside the civic, kids chased autographs, college coaches lined the baseline, and history stood court side. Keith Smart the man who buried the game-winning jumper for Indiana University in the 1987 national championship game was in the building coaching, adding yet another thread to Indiana's hoops tapestry.

In the middle of it all was La Lumiere.

The La Porte Invitational gave La Lumiere a clear snapshot of who it is right now. The Lakers faced elite competition, handled adversity, and proved they can respond. After a loss Friday to Long Island Lutheran, they regrouped and earned two quality wins the rest of the weekend, highlighting their depth, balance, and leadership. One thing was confirmed: La Lumiere belongs in the national conversation.
The Lakers dropped game one on Friday night to Long Island Lutheran, 67–60, then bounced back on Saturday with an impressive 81-62 victory over CATS Academy. In that win, Devin Cleveland led the way with 18 points, while Ferlandes Wright added 17 points and 9 rebounds. Notre Dame commit Jonathan Sanderson filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, running the show with poise from start to finish.

On Sunday, La Lumiere battled Sunrise Christian Academy and used a decisive 13–2 second-half run to pull away for a 68–49 victory, securing a 2–1 record at this year's Invitational.
Purdue commit Jacob Webber was on fire from the field, finishing with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Wright continued his dominant weekend inside, posting 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Cleveland added 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. As a team, the Lakers shot 50 percent from the field, including 50 percent from three-point range.

"I was proud of how our guys responded," said La Lumiere head coach Pat Holmes. "For us to be at our best, we have to distribute the ball. In both wins we had 22 and 19 assists, respectively."
Holmes also praised his junior big man.
"Ferlandes has been a workhorse. Tonight he had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks. He leads the league in rebounds, and he plays bigger than he is."
Coach Holmes widened the lens to the community and the event itself.
"We would have loved to have gone 3–0, but we'll take 2–1," he said. "The community support is incredible, and it's special to have this event in our own backyard. You've got Rasheed Wallace coaching a team, Keith Smart coaching a team, Tom Izzo and IU out recruiting, Jalen Haralson (La Lu alum, McDonald's All-American, current ND starting guard) back in the building. A lot of these kids will be McDonald's All-Americans and future first-round draft picks. Seeing little kids walking around with autograph books, that makes it all worth it."
Wright echoed the team's resilience after Friday's loss.
"It was a slow start for us on Friday, and we didn't play La Lu basketball," Wright said. "It's a good feeling to know the team is depending on me, and it's an honor for them to feel that way about me."
He said the weekend taught them something important.
"I learned that our team is capable of bouncing back from defeat. Friday was our first loss of the season, and we were excited to respond and take this momentum forward. Credit to our coaching staff for preparing us."
The Hoosiers bus, the history, the noise, the college coaches, the national stars it all fit together.
Big Stage. Small Town. Next Generation. And right in the middle of it stood La Lumiere, proving it belongs there.

The Lakers travel January 18th to Dayton, OH for Flyin' to the Hoop to take on Lakota West and Utah Prep.

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