LAPEL —The last Bulldog basketball game before the holidays was not only a game but a celebration as well.
Even though Lapel lost to visiting Lafayette Jefferson 82-60, the night honored both Coach Jimmie Howell and Bronchos coach Mark Barnhizer.
Howell was presented with a game ball from the Dec. 4 win against Elwood. The victory marked Howell’s 251st win as Lapel head coach, making him the winningest basketball coach in Bulldog history.
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Also, the game marked a return for Barnhizer. Barnhizer is the all-time scoring leader for the Bulldogs. In 1974, Barnhizer finished his career after scoring a record 1,829 points for the Bulldogs. He scored those in just three seasons.
Howell and Barnhizer were neighbors growing up as well as teammates.
Barnhizer coached at a few schools, but returned to Indiana a few years ago after a highly successful stint in Alabama.
“Mark had texted me last spring and said ‘Is there any way you could get us to come down there and play. My boys would love to come down there and play,’” Howell said.
Howell said Barnhizer’s sons, who are on the Lafayette Jeff team, had heard so much about Lapel they wanted the experience.
It was a one-year deal, but Saturday’s game wasn’t the first time the two had met as coaches. When Howell coached at Mt. Vernon, Barnhizer was the coach at Westfield in the mid-’80s.
Coming into the game, the undefeated Bronchos were ranked No. 5 in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and No. 3 in 4A by The Associated Press. At 5-3, the Bulldogs were ranked 13th in AP and 11th in Max Preps.
Early on, the Bulldogs kept pace with the Bronchos. Lapel jumped out to a 5-0 lead and ended the first quarter down just 6 points.
However, Lafayette Jeff’s Avery Beaver and Brooks Barnhizer nailed basket after basket and helped the Bronchos to a 37-20 halftime lead.
Even with the scoring spurts of Bulldosg Cole Alexander and Carson Huber in the second half, Lapel edged no closer than a 12-point deficit. Huber led the Bulldogs with 14 points and Alexander had 10.
In the closing minutes of the game, several Bulldogs came off the bench to finish the game. Corbin Renihan, Griffin Craig, Camren Sullivan and Caden Eicks all scored for the Bulldogs.
“Our JV kids are really good,” Howell said. “There’s not a huge difference between them and the varsity kids. They got some good minutes against a very good team.”
Lapel will host Daleville on Dec. 28 and Guerin Catholic on Jan. 2. Madison County Tournament play begins Jan. 6 with Lapel hosting Frankton in the first round.