LAPEL — Before the tip off against Sheridan on Friday, Lapel basketball coach Jimmie Howell was honored for his 600th win as a coach (against Daleville on Dec. 22) and presented a special game ball.
After the Sheridan game, the Bulldogs celebrated not only an 86-50 win against the visiting Blackhawks but also another milestone: Senior Luke Richardson had joined the 1,000-point club.
Richardson sunk a free throw with a little more than three minutes remaining in the game to become the eighth player in Bulldog history to achieve such a feat.
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He joins his brother, Jon Ross Richardson, who attained the honor just two years ago.
Luke Richardson attributed part of his success to his sibling.
“A lot of hard work went into what I did, but I have to give credit to my older brother,” Richardson said. “He really set the bar for me, and I wanted to reach it. It really means the world to me.”
Richardson also gave praise to his teammates.
“It really takes the pressure off of me, because if the rest of the team is scoring, they (opponents) have to lay off of me, because they have to guard their own man, and it opens me up.”
Richardson had 24 points and 14 rebounds.
“That’s not unusual for him (Richardson). He’s averaging a double double,” Howell said. “He’s had a great career. He’s a hard-working kid. He’s at the point where he is because of hard work.”
Five Bulldogs were in double figures for the night’s game.
“We played with a lot more energy tonight,” Howell said.
“We’ve struggled the last few games. I don’t know if it was them wanting to get to the 600th or not,” Howell said, referring to the Daleville outing. “We lost three or four in a row. Tonight we came out a little more relaxed and a little more focused.”
Three missed buckets for Lapel started off the game, but Noah Frazier sank a 3 to get the Bulldogs rolling. Frazier went on to score 9 points, all 3s, in the first quarter, and finished with 12 for the game.
After an early first-quarter tie, the Bulldogs’ offense controlled the game, but the Blackhawks were still in it, down 22-14 at the end of one. Sheridan’s Jesse Kolb sank a 3 at the buzzer and another to open the second quarter to put the Blackhawks at 22-17, but at the half, the Bulldogs had a 41-27 advantage Sheridan could not overcome.
Joining Richardson and Frazier in double figures was Reid Ratzlaff with 16, Bryce Carpenter with 12 and Cole Alexander with 11.
“Reid had a great game,” Howell said. “I was glad to see him do so well.”
The Bulldogs out-rebounded Sheridan 34-18. Eight players tallied assists for the game, and the Dogs shot 50 percent for the game.
“We shot the ball well tonight, and that makes you look a lot better,” Howell said.
He said shots inside during the game came easier than in some previous contests. They’ve been forced to lob the long-range shots, but an inside game worked against the Blackhawks.
The win put Lapel 5-3 going into the Madison County tournament. Following the tournament, the Bulldogs will play host to Hamilton Heights Jan. 11.
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At Guerin Catholic Dec. 21, the Bulldogs fell into a deep hole after one quarter and lost 62-53.
Richardson paced the scoring with 17 points, and Carson Huber had 12.
