LAPEL — As Lapel’s girls basketball head coach, Zach Newby is a big-picture man.
After the heartbreaking 50-46 loss to Wapahani in the sectional semifinal Friday, Newby’s comments had more to do with what he thought about his team than the previous 32 minutes.
“I’ve told them before every single game that I love them and am proud of them,” Newby said. “And that’s the same thing I told them when we walked into the locker room.”
Newby said winning games is hard and even harder in the tournament: “Their careers are not going to be defined by tonight.”
Seniors Makynlee Taylor, Delany Peoples, Morgan Knepp and Anna Willis had standout ventures as Bulldogs, and the team has a strong base of underclassmen to lead next year.
“That’s what’s tough,” Newby said. “I can come back and do this as many years as I want, but these kids get four chances to do it, and they’ve come close so many times.”
The Bulldogs led the Raiders by as much as 11 points going into the final quarter, but the Raiders kept chipping away at the lead.
While Wapahani’s trips to the free throw line proved fruitful, in the waning minutes, the charity stripe became the Bulldogs’ enemy as they missed shot after shot and went 14-31 for the game.
“It’s hard. That is one of the reasons we lost,” Newby said. “Also, scoring only 7 points in the second quarter is a reason we lost, and giving up 21 in the fourth quarter is a reason we lost. It’s a combination of things.”
“You have to give them (Wapahani) credit,” Newby said. “They played well. We just had a couple bounces that didn’t go our way.”
Delaney Peoples led the team with 14 points, while Lily Daniels had 11. Makynlee Taylor had eight rebounds, and Morgan Knepp had five rebounds, four steals and six assists.
The Bulldogs made their appearance in the finals by first defeating Elwood 64-33 in the first round. For the season, the Bulldogs were 17-7.
Taylor led the season by averaging 12 points and almost eight rebounds per game. Knepp led the team in assists, 121, and steals, 56.
As the seasons come and go, the process and reward is bigger than the game of basketball.
“We’re not out here to just win games at whatever the cost,” Newby said. “We try to get these kids to do things the right way and live the right way.”
Newby said he’s proud of how his team conducts themselves through everything.
“They’re respectful to people as well as their opponents, and that’s what we’re trying to teach them,” he said.
“Whether you win a sectional or a state title, your life is going to be the same. That’s what we try to teach to be good people and how you can build relationships and see different viewpoints. We have kids from all different walks, and they respect each other,” Newby said.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Newby said he’d trade the wins for the future.
“I would much rather lose and know that I’m coaching great young ladies who are going to be successful in this world than win all the sectionals with kids who don’t care.”
He said his invite to their future weddings is much more important than any title.
“I love them all and hope they enjoyed this year as much as I enjoyed coaching them.”
