Leps Start New Basketball Era Under Collier

The La Grange boys basketball team won their home opener Monday 60-39 over Schulenburg in an interesting battle between coaches who were working together just last season.

New La Grange boys basketball coach Trent Collier was an assistant under longtime Schulenburg coach Richard Hoogendoorn the past two seasons before taking over the Leps program.

“Every one of my former assistants has beat me so he joined the crew,” Hoogendoorn said. “La Grange has got a nice group, and he’s a good coach. He’ll do well, and the Shorthorns will be fine.”

Monday was the season opener for Schulenburg.

La Grange improved to 2-2 with the win.

“We’re good friends,” Collier said of Hoogendoorn. “He’s a legend, I didn’t out coach him, we just had some more pieces that he did.”

La Grange senior Nate Scott led the way for La Grange, scoring 20. Clayton Cooper, a junior, scored nine and Jahse Scott (senior) and Oliver Gunn (a sophomore) each had eight.

Schulenburg was led by Jayse Janda, who scored 15, and Rodney Walton added 10.

La Grange jumped out to a 25-7 lead before Schulenburg went on a 9-0 run to trim the Leps lead to just 11 at halftime.

“I thought Coach Collier had them ready to play and we weren’t,” Hoogendoorn said. “I liked that we stopped the bleeding in the first half ... We’ve still got a lot of football in us. We’ll be fine, just gotta grow up a little bit.”

The defending district champ Leps are still a workin- progress too, Collier said.

Besides the aforementioned scoring leaders from Monday, this year’s Leps also include freshman Con-ner Brooks, juniors Cordale Knapik and Devonte McKenzie, and seniors Reece Nygrin, Thai Scott, Jeremiah Dillard, Veer Desai and John Gray.

“We’re trying to figure out how to play, we want to play fast and aggressive,” Collier said. “We’re seeing growth for sure, but we’re still a long ways to where we want to be. Top to bottom, we’ve got three teams (including JV and freshmen) that can do something and that’s a good place to be with a program.”

Prior to coaching in Schulenburg, Collier was a head girls basketball coach at Taylor.

He said he and his wife (who is a new teacher at LGISD) had long admired La Grange and are excited to be a part of the community.

Collier takes over the Leps program from longtime coach David Cooper, who decided to focus on teaching.

“Coach Cooper had a great program and we’re just trying to build on that,” Collier said.

But he’s very different. David Cooper was a rather quiet, methodical coach.

Collier’s booming voice could be heard throughout the gym during Monday’s game.

“I was actually pretty reserved today,” Collier laughed. “I wear boots for a reason, they make a lot of noise. When we start taking charges and diving for the ball, I’m going to be the guy stomping and cheering. We want energy. We talk all the time about playing classy, aggressive basketball. That’s a tough combo ... We’re trying to develop the kid and at the same time develop the athlete. We’re three weeks into the process, stick around it’s going to get better – a lot better.”

The Leps were next scheduled to play Tuesday at Moulton and Monday at Wharton.

November 20

La Grange boys 60, Schulenburg 39

Schulenburg 4 12 18 5 – 39 La Grange 4 10 2 20 7 – 43 Schulenburg scoring: Walton 10, Johnson 4, Houston 5, Janda 15, Ellison 3, Luhrus 2.

La Grange scoring: Clayton Cooper 9, Jahse Scott 8, Cordale Knapik 6, Jeremiah Dillard 2, Thai Scott 5, Nate Scott 20, Devonte McKenzie 2, Oliver Gunn 8.

Subvarsity:

JV – La Grange 77, Schulenburg 28 Leading scorer: Collier Freshmen: La Grange 53, Schulenburg18 Leading scorer: Supak 19