Dick’s Nationals Preview: Is this the year for La Lumiere?

Video: Brian Bowen highlights
McDonald's All-American hopes to finish on top this week in NYC.

Head coach Shane Heirman has led La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) to a 52-5 record over the past two seasons, beating teams from 15 different states and China along the way.

The Lakers have notched signature victories over established powers Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.).

In short, the upstart program has done it all – except take home the trophy at Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals.

That dream was dashed in heartbreaking fashion a year ago as Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) beat the Lakers at the buzzer in overtime to capture the tournament title. La Lumiere (25-1) will look to erase that memory beginning Thursday at Christ the King High School in New York. The Lakers, who were rewarded with the top seed, open against Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah).

In other first round matchups, Montverde Academy meets Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) at noon (EDT), Findlay Prep meets Oak Hill Academy at 2 p.m. and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) faces Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) at 4 p.m.

All of Thursday's games will be broadcast live by ESPNU. See the full bracket below.

Findlay Prep (2009, 2010, 2012), Montverde Academy (2013, 2014, 2015) and Oak Hill Academy (2016) are all past winners in the event.

MaxPreps National Rankings
Independent Top 10
1. IMG Academy
2. La Lumiere
4. Montverde Academy
5. Findlay Prep
6. Oak Hill Academy
10. Wasatch Academy
High School Top 25
9. Greensboro Day
14. Shadow Mountain