Lapel boys - Departing Coach Justin Coomer (Interim)
LAPEL, Ind. -- (Updated 4/9) Coach Coomer went 7-13 after taking over for Jimmie Howell who announced his retirement 4 games into this year. Where to start here.. Good Varsity Club member reports a hornets’ nest of parents. Coach Howell had previously won two State Championships at Lapel and over 600 games during a 40 year career, 17 at his alma mater, Lapel. The current parents in and around Bulldog-land could give a shit apparently, and clearly felt they knew more about how Lapel basketball should operate. Good Varsity Club member speaks well of Coach Coomer’s effort in a difficult interim situation. Report states only one contributing senior (8-9 ppg) set to graduate, and four players of similar offensive ability are expected back including their two best post players and leading ball handler. Varsity Clubber brings up the double edged sword that Lapel has experienced with the influx of students from outside their school district. Yes, there have been better athletes come through, but with that has also come the free-agent mentality of not having grown-up in said community. This phenomenon is not unique to Lapel, but there are times it can reach critical mass. Very quick apps deadline on this one 4/14, which led one Varsity Clubber to point right to Coomer as the heir apparent, but that was more speculation than inside info. Winning JV squad roster from last year expected to help pressure varsity players in a good way. Pretty decent size in the program in the form of 4 or 5 6-3’s. Varsity Clubber unsure of what jobs may be in play for this one, but did anticipate Coach Howell’s MS AD position to be open. Sectional 40: Elwood, Alex, Monroe Central, Wapahani, Winchester, and Frankton.
