Chappell declared eligible, makes game-winner in return

Darren Chappell's on-court return to the Johnson County basketball team turned out to be earlier than anticipated, and it paid immediate dividends. Chappell hit the game-winning shot with three seconds remaining in a 61-59 win against West Caldwell on Saturday night at Freedom High School in Morganton, North Carolina. A senior forward who led the Longhorns in scoring during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Cosby last spring, Chappell returned to Johnson County the day before Christmas break. It was initially believed he'd have to attend school three days – he attended one before Christmas break – but the new one-time transfer rule allows for eligibility after three practices as well. The 'Horns wasted no time in utilizing Chappell at crunch time. First-year head coach Ethan Harmon called his number during a late timeout with 13 seconds left. "We came out of the timeout there and executed, set a good screen and got a guy in position to be successful," Harmon said. "He hit a little post hook down there at the block." Kaden Blevins set the screen to seal Chappell's opportunity for a storybook return. "It was an amazing experience playing with my guys again and Coach Harmon having the confidence in me to take that shot," Chappell said. "Chris fed me the ball and I finished the shot with about three seconds left. It was great being back out there with them." Chappell and Landin Lipford led the Longhorns with 15 points apiece against West Caldwell. "They were athletic," Harmon said. "It was a tough-nosed group. They had some guys that drove it really well and that kind of gave us some trouble." The relatively seamless transition might be more understandable if Austin Atwood was still coaching the Longhorns. But Harmon arrived after Chappell's departure and implemented his system. However, the familiarity with teammates seems to be the trump card. "He's only been gone a few months and they grew up with him," Harmon said. "They all like him, they all know him. It really wasn't a transition process. I mean, he just came back and it's like, 'Well, Darren's back.' It's like he hopped right back in with the guys. … "Our guys around him, I think, are just gonna be better with him being back as well. It's not just a one-man show. We're a collective effort every night." A team effort was required against West Caldwell. "Chris Wilson played very well defensively and made some plays for us," Harmon said. "Kaden Blevins and Dylan Warren also played very well for us – just defensively as well as knocking down open shots." As if fate needed to offer any more twists, Johnson County was to play Cosby – the team Chappell began the season with – at 11:30 a.m. on Monday in a tournament at Happy Valley. "They're gonna be a tough-nosed bunch and they travel well," Harmon said. "I mean, every game they play is almost a home game with how well they travel. So, you've gotta show up and play a good style, a good brand of basketball, or you're gonna come out on the wrong side. … It's gonna be an interesting one." Cruz Coggins is Cosby's go-to lead guard. "The game for Cosby is going to be amazing," Chappell said. "I'm excited to play them. It's gonna be a weird scene for me but I can't wait to be able to compete against the guys I've spent the last eight months with. It's gonna be special. "Me and the guys from Cosby, we're still good friends. We talked about the game and we're all excited to be able to play each other. From me and Cruz Coggins and Cornelius Carr playing together to playing each other is gonna be fun." If Johnson County defeats Cosby, it'll was to play Providence Academy at 5:45 p.m. on Monday. A loss to Cosby would mean the Longhorns would take on the Soddy-Daisy/Cumberland Gap loser on Tuesday at Happy Valley. The tournament games happened after press time. Coverage will be in the Jan. 7 Tomahawk. Lipford leads the Longhorns with 16 points per game. Point guard Carson Jennings is averaging 11 points and five assists per game.