It’s the most wonderful time …

<p>“Suddenly life has new meaning to me” – Billy Ocean</p><p>Seems strange considering we’re still only about three weeks removed from sweaty 88-degree days, but here we are.</p><p>It’s basketball season in Indiana again.</p><p>Hoosier faithful are eagerly awaiting the dawn of the Romeo Langford era (which might last all of one year) in Bloomington. Pacer fans are buzzing with excitement about this season, which will undoubtedly end with about a No. 6 seed in the East and another first-round exit.</p><p>And tonight, high school girls basketball will tip off across the state. (There was one game in Evansville Monday night, but this evening is when it truly begins in earnest.)</p><p>Locally, there should be plenty of intrigue on the girls side. Center Grove and Whiteland will be trying to fill the voids left by departed Indiana All-Stars Cassidy Hardin and Mackenzie Blazek (now at Purdue and Illinois, respectively), but they still enter the season as the two teams to beat locally. Each of the other county teams has its own set of unanswered questions, but there are enough talented players across the board ready to try answering them.</p><p>Once the boys season starts next month, all eyes will obviously be on Center Grove and prohibitive Mr. Basketball favorite Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Trojans will enter the year as the clear top dog in the county and a state title contender, and they should draw a crowd as they travel around the area this winter.</p><p>Interest in Jackson-Davis’ exploits will undoubtedly be higher with Indiana University still among the three college teams in the running for his services (Michigan State and UCLA are the others), but even if he makes a choice before the season and doesn’t select the Hoosiers, there should be plenty of people trying to catch a glimpse of the 6-foot-9 star, a consensus top-20 national recruit and probably the best player ever from Johnson County, which hasn’t had a Mr. Basketball winner since Greenwood’s John Bass in 1941.</p><p>Center Grove won’t be the only boys team worth watching, either. Franklin has most of its key pieces back as it eyes a fourth straight Mid-State Conference title, Edinburgh is coming off of its first sectional championship since 2012 and there should be some intrigue at Greenwood Christian and Whiteland as well.</p><p>For now, I’m just excited to get back into the gym. Jumping around from school to school the past couple of weeks and reacquainting myself with those familiar sounds of balls bouncing and sneakers squeaking against the hardwood has whet the appetite for the games to come.</p><p>And the gyms — oh, the gyms. Not only is the county home to some of my favorites, but I’m also excited for the opportunity to check a few of the state’s other gems off of my list (I’ll likely make my first trek to New Castle in December, for one).</p><p>Very few of us are fans of the frigid weather that will no doubt be upon us in a few short weeks. But while Indiana may draw the short straw from a meteorological standpoint, we’ve also been gifted with the best high school basketball environment on the planet, a welcome indoor distraction to help warm our souls through the winter months.</p><p>Starting tonight, we get to take advantage of it. Enjoy.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>TONIGHT’S GAMES</p><p>Plainfield at Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.</p><p>Greenwood at Bloomington North, 7:30 p.m.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]