New Lady Braves hoop coach plans fun and fundamentals

Succeeding a Hall of Fame coach is a tall order, but fortunately for the La Conner High School girls' basketball program new mentor Joe Harper stands 6'-5".

He takes over from Scott Novak, who guided teams to multiple state tournament appearances and trophy finishes during three decades. For much of his tenure here he coached the Braves and Lady Braves simultaneously.

Novak, a 2015 state coaches Hall of Fame inductee, remains on the faculty. His longtime protégé and coaching assistant, Dustin Swanson, has moved on to lead the 3A Stanwood High School girls' team.

Harper and his assistants have only praise for Novak and Swanson.

"One thing we want to stress," Harper said, "is that we appreciate everything Scott and Dustin have done for this program."

That includes not having left an empty cupboard.

Harper inherits senior post Ellie Marble and guard-forward Josie Harper, the coach's daughter.

She led Skagit County in scoring as a sophomore. Their team placed fourth at the 2022 Hardwood Classic and defeated foes from the 1B-4A ranks on the road to Spokane.

Harper expects senior Kennedy Miller and underclassmen Shaniquah Casey and Maeve McCormick to be significant contributors. He is hopeful that 6'-2" Makayla Herrera, who played on La Conner's 2020 state runner-up team as a freshman, will return as a force in the paint.

The team provided a brief snapshot of what fans can expect this season during a two-game set at Lynden last summer. La Conner blew out 3A Sehome and tied defending state 1A champion Lynden Christian. There was no overtime period, but Marble scored a game-high 32 points. Harper added 18.

Coach Harper will build on that experience, crafting an offense that allows players to improvise if set plays break down.

"I'm an encouraging coach," Harper said. "I want everyone to be able to make decisions on the court. I want to let the girls play."

He envisions Marble being the hub of the attack.

"I see a big role for Ellie," he said. "The ball will definitely go through her."

Josie Harper will stretch defenses, taking pressure off Marble.

"Josie has a pass-first mentality," said coach Harper, "but she also shoots over 40% on three-pointers."

He anticipates playing an up-tempo pace, allowing the Lady Braves to go with deeper rotations while building roster depth.

La Conner will intentionally play a challenging schedule, facing six 4A programs in Skyline, Jackson, Kamiak, Sky View, Kentwood and Union High of Vancouver, WA.

"A lot of those games will be around mid-season," said Harper. "Playing tough opponents should make us a better team and prepare us for post-season."

Harper plans to include thematic nights at Landy James Gym. His idea is to schedule a Native American Night, Alumni Night and Youth Night at the very least.

"We want to maximize community involvement," said Harper, a regional vice-president for Genie, the company that manufactures work lifts and construction platforms.

Harper's own heavy lifting leading up to the season involves establishing for the team what he calls its five pillars, the structures upon which the Lady Braves ethic will be built.

"Those pillars," Harper said, "are respect, courage, citizenship, integrity and empowerment."

A 1994 graduate of Monroe High School, where he was a member of the school's eighth place state tourney entry, Harper is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose extensive youth coaching resume ranges from basketball to snowboarding.

He is assisted by La Conner alums Lynette Cram, Rene Pedroza and Anna Cook.

"I want to get our players all the help possible," said Harper. "It won't be a 'my way or the highway' approach. I want them to get better and to do that I want to call on all available resources."

More than that, though, Harper wants his players to take joy in what they're doing.

"This game is all about encouragement and connections," he insisted. "It's not about yelling and screaming. The key word for us is fun.

"If they're having fun," he said, "we're doing well."

And, if all goes according to plan, it should be a fun season ahead for the fans as well.