(La Porte, IN) - They were teammates on the La Porte Slicers final four high school basketball team from 1997.

 

Tonight, they’ll be coaching against each other on the hardwood.

 

Steve Drabyn, head coach at Bethel University in Mishawaka and Greg Tonagel, head coach at Indiana Wesleyan University, will have their squads competing against each other.

 

La Porte resident Mike Kellems is going to the game at Bethel College to take pictures as a professional for one of the programs.

 

Kellems said the coaching match up brings back a lot of fond memories of the last season the Slicers basketball team made it to the state semi-finals.

 

At the time, Kellems was a La Porte County Police Officer, who helped escort the team to its post season games in the sectionals, regionals, semi-state and state finals in Indianapolis.

“Those are days I’ll never forget,” he said.

 

Kellems said he has been to games where both men have coached but never to a game where they were coaching against each other.

 

“It’s a great opportunity. A real treat go to. I look forward to shooting some photos tonight,” he said.

 

La Porte fell just short of a chance to win the state title that year losing in the semi-finals to Delta 57-56.