(La Porte, IN) - It appears an ESPN televised basketball tourney featuring some of the best high school players in the nation is coming back to La Porte.

 

Nothing is in writing, but a verbal commitment has been made for the tourney to return to the La Porte Civic Auditorium next year and possibly beyond.

 

Jack Arnett, Executive Director of the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau along with Mayor Tom Dermody, engaged in talks with officials from the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference while they were here recently.  

 

The NIBC held its three day conference invitational at the Civic Auditorium this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the second consecutive year.   La Lumiere is among the college prep schools with teams in the conference.

 

Arnett said the NIBC agreed to a one-year deal for 2024 and try to hammer out a contract to bring the tournament here for another five-years.

 

“Couldn’t be a better, a better situation,” he said.

 

NIBC Commissioner Rashid Ghazy said he was very pleased with the attendance and hospitality the past two years La Porte has hosted the tournament.  He said La Porte also brings other positives to the table like the atmosphere of the historic Civic Auditorium.

“La Porte has been amazing.  The crowds this year have been as good or better than last year.  I think a lot of teams not from the Midwest love playing in a historic building that has a very Hoosier like feel,” he said.

 

Dermody at center court presented the ball used in the Saturday night game La Lumiere played in against a team from Long Island, New York.   The Lakers narrowly lost after a thrilling second half 15 point comeback.

 

“It’s a great partnership and we’re excited to see this happen for years to come,” Dermody said.