NEW HAVEN – Brandon Appleton knew there was talent at New Haven.

When the former Angola coach was considering taking over the Bulldogs in the spring of 2024, he watched film on the 2023-24 team that had gone 7-17 overall and 1-6 in Northeast 8 play. Record aside, what he saw intrigued him.

“Kids were making plays,” Appleton said, “and I kept looking at the roster like, ‘Oh man, that kid’s a sophomore, that kid’s a freshman. They got something.’”

Appleton took the job and went about honing the ability that he saw on film. Instead of a multi-year rebuilding process that culminated in those promising freshmen and sophomores winning as juniors and seniors, the Bulldogs found immediate success, going 14-11 in their new coach’s first season and sharing the NE8 title with Columbia City at 6-1

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