LAPEL — A few days after the Bulldogs closed out their football season, a few of the team members went straight from the field to the basketball court.
The Lapel High School varsity and junior varsity hoops teams have to deal with the abrupt switch, and head coach Jimmie Howell is a veteran of practice delays because of an extended postseason.
It’s a good problem to have.
“We’ll be playing catchup for a while, but by Christmas, we should be at full power,” Howell said.
The road to retaining last year’s boys basketball sectional crown will not be an easy one, but the so-called second season is what the regular season builds for.
The Bulldogs lost their second-, third- and fourth-leading scorers to graduation.
However, Luke Richardson returns as Lapel’s leading scorer and the one their opponents are watching.
The 6-foot-6 senior averaged just under 20 points per game last season and pulled down an average of nine rebounds per game.
Despite the loss of part of the offensive game, the Bulldogs have experience.
Junior Carson Huber started varsity in more than half of last season’s games. He’s joined by senior Reid Ratzlaff, who saw varsity time on the floor, along with juniors Cole Alexander and Bryce Carpenter.
Carpenter at 6’5” will give more height at forward, and quarterback Alexander may be able to transfer his accuracy from the football field to the hardwood.
So the Bulldogs are not without experience.
Chris Mottweiler, Dane Busch and Ross Hagen round out the senior roster.
Howell said opponents will key in on Richardson.
“It’s going to be important for when Luke’s double-teamed for him to kick it out to the perimeter and those people knock down the shot.”
Defense is always a concern with the schedule the Bulldogs play.
“We’re playing schools in the top 10-15 in the state in (Class) 2A,” Howell said.
They’ve even added Oak Hill, which defeated Lapel in the regional last year and went on to win the state.
Even the early-season schedule is not a light one. Lapel travels to Anderson for the season opener before playing host to Frankton and Pendleton Heights, all before Dec. 1.
The Bulldogs get to showcase their talents Dec. 7 against Wapahani at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as part of a high school tripleheader. The details have not been released yet from Bankers Life.
In a change for all of Madison County, the county tournament will be played over the holiday break. The first set of games is scheduled for Dec. 31, with the remaining tournament continuing Jan. 3-5.
“When we get to sectional, we want to be playing our best ball,” Howell said. “I don’t set specific goals. I just want to be in a position to win.”
While he says that’s not going to happen every time, he wants the team going into every game with the mindset.
“We want to be fundamentally sound,” said Howell, who is in his fifth decade as a coach.
Fundamentals and focus are stressed in practices and can be key in a game situation, he said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Roster” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
No. Name Position Height Weight
10 Carson Huber PG Jr. 5-7 120
12 Chris Mottweiler PG, SG Sr. 5-8 140
14 Noah Frazier SG Jr. 5-10 150
20 Dane Busch G, F Sr. 6-2 165
24 Reid Ratzlaff SG, PG Sr. 6-1 140
30 Ross Hagen SG, SF Sr. 6-2 160
34 Cole Alexander F Jr. 6-2 195
40 Kolby Bullard SG, G Jr. 5-11 175
42 Blake Mills SG, G Fr. 6-1 155
44 Luke Richardson F,C Sr. 6-6 225
50 Bryce Carpenter F, SG Jr. 6-5 170
54 Gage White P Jr. 6-6 190
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 @ Anderson
7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 vs. Frankton
7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 vs. Pendleton Heights
7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 vs. Wapahani at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 vs. Muncie Burris
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 vs. Beech Grove
7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 @ Guerin Catholic
7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 @ Daleville
7:30 p.m. Dec. 28 vs. Sheridan
7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 vs. Anderson Prep Academy
Jan. 3 Madison County Tourney details TBA
Jan. 5 Madison County Tourney details TBA
7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 vs. Hamilton Heights
7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. New Castle
7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. Eastern Hancock
7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 vs. Oak Hill
7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 @ Alexandria-Monroe
2 p.m. Feb. 2 @ Elwood
7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 @ Shenandoah
7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 vs. Hagerstown
7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 @ Madison-Grant
7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 @ Tipton
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