Report: LaPorte set to hire Culver’s Neace

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

LaPorte will hire Culver’s Adam Neace as its new girls basketball coach, pending approval at a July 2 school board meeting, according to Jim Peters of jimpeterspreps.com.

Culver went 15-9 last season under Neace, who was in his first full season as the sole head coach. The team went 6-2 in the Hoosier North and tied for second place. The season ended with a 29-21 loss to North Judson in the sectional semifinals.

The 15 wins were Culver’s most in a season in 10 years.

Neace and his brother A.J. were co-head coaches in 2023-24 when the team went 4-18.

A.J. Neace returned as an assistant coach on his brother’s staff last year. Auston Zehner, Brett Berndt, J.B. Overmyer and Jessica McCuen were also on last year’s staff.

Adam Neace is a 2009 Culver grad.

Culver graduated starters Brynn Berndt and Amiyah Williams and reserve guard Maddy Hamilton from last year’s team but is expected to return the guard tandem of Ava McCune and Ashlynn Berndt along with sharpshooter Brianna Schlemmer and forwards Brooke Davis and Chloe Lewis. 

LaPorte, a Class 4A school and a member of the Duneland Conference, went 0-23 last under Airrence Shark. They are 2-66 over the last three years, but they won back-to-back sectionals as recently as 2020 and 2021.