INDIANAPOLIS — Brendan Huppenthal could hardly contain himself as he waited to run out of the tunnel with the Lake Central girls basketball team for the IHSAA Class 4A state championship game last Saturday. It was the most nervous he'd ever been before a game, he told a school administrator, but he was also super excited.

As warm-ups commenced and fans continued filing into Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Brendan was on the bench, hanging out and posing for photos with the team's other managers: Mayah Grigsby, Nic Rossi and Alexa Wellman. He politely declined a pregame interview through a a Lake Central staff member, opting instead to continue watching Lawrence Central go through its warm-ups.

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If you've watched any Lake Central basketball (boys or girls) over the past few seasons, chances are you've seen Brendan. The nephew of Lake Central girls coach Joe Huppenthal and former Hamilton Southeastern coach Chris Huppenthal, he's usually out there greeting opposing players during pregame introductions and can sometimes be spotted eating nachos on the bench during the game — a ritual established during his time helping former Lake Central boys basketball coach Dave Milausnic. (Coincidentally, Dave's daughter, senior Riley Milausnic, is Brendan's favorite player because "she shoots a lot of 3s.")

Brendan "bleeds blue," Joe says. He "lives and dies with Lake Central."

Brendan has Down Syndrome and is one of three Lake Central managers with special needs. That probably would have resulted in bullying even just a few years ago, mom Jeanine says, but the opposite has held true at Lake Central. Brendan is, by all accounts, the most popular kid at school; the mayor — no, the president of the Lake Central school system, his uncles agree.

Jeanine and Dan will be out with their son and strangers will excitedly call out his name and walk over to say hi. Who the heck was that, Brendo? "I don't know," he'll often reply.

People gravitate to him, Dan said. "Brendan lights up whatever room he's in."

The entire community has embraced him, Jeanine added, bringing Brendan in and making sure he's included, be it for school dances or the sectional draw watch party. His two siblings, Ryan and Allie, have told their parents they have more friends because of their brother, who "puts himself out there."

One of Hamilton Southeastern's biggest fans during Chris' 2019 state championship run and a longtime staple of Lake Central athletics (football, and girls and boys basketball), Brendan's calls with Chris usually begin with asking to speak with his aunt Suzie (Chris' wife), then transition to questions about Chris' former players like Sydney Parrish — she always made time for Brendan, Chris said, and will occasionally FaceTime with him — and Bre Lloyd.

HSE athletic director Jim Self joked with Joe that his nephew was the only reason Lake Central was being allowed to practice at HSE during state week, and as soon as Brendan got off the bus, Self pulled him aside so they could FaceTime with his daughter Lydia, who's a junior at Northern Kentucky.

"He's just a fan through and through. He loves sports and he loves the players," Chris said. "A lot of people bring Brendan joy and I can tell you, he brings a lot of joy to people, too."

When Hamilton Southeastern and Lake Central would play while Chris was coaching, he and Joe would call Brendan to ask him who he'd be rooting for — before playfully reminding him that he wouldn't be allowed in their locker room if he chose the other team.

Unable to decide, Brendan would put his hands on his head and shake his head, everyone laughed. Both. I want them both to win. The solution: Wear the home team's shirt (with the other one underneath) and, for one game at least, start the game on one team's bench, then head into the other team's locker room at halftime.

"Brendan just gives that smile like, 'Oh shucks,'" Chris laughed. "He doesn't want to disappoint either one of us, you know? That's Brendan. He makes everybody happy. He doesn't want anybody to be sad. He just wants everyone around him to enjoy life like he does."

Brendan will cut through pauses in conversation with his uncle Joe to ask about some of his former players — "The kid's smarter than smart," Joe said — and is always eager to talk strategy on game night: "Uncle Joe, we gonna run 'Blue' tonight?" (that's one of Lake Central's presses), and offer some words of encouragement: "Uncle Joe, we getting the dub tonight? We got this, Uncle Joe."

Games end at either "Club Dub" or "The Loser Club," with the latter reinforced by Brendan walking into his downtrodden uncle's office with "a big ol' L on his forehead."

"He makes you chuckle and puts it into perspective," Dan said.

"You won't find a happier kid to be around. He's the happiest kid in America," Joe added. "He doesn't have a bad day, but if he does, you know it, and he somehow makes it a good day. … He's a light for our family."

Brendan was naturally inclined to love sports and his parents treated him the same as his older brother Ryan and younger sister Allie, signing him up for youth tee-ball, soccer and basketball. Brendan was able to play in a few middle school basketball games, Jeanine said, recalling how everyone involved celebrated and engaged with Brendan and the other special needs players. "Brendan is helping other kids, other communities by creating that awareness. It makes us all better."

"His parents don't get the credit they probably deserve for getting him in this environment," Joe said. "And Ryan and Allie, good gosh, what they have done (for him). They're so close. … That kid's going to be taken care of for the rest of his life. The love in our family for that kid is phenomenal."

After spending most of the week hanging out with Joe and his aunt Shannon in Indianapolis, Brendan's interaction with his uncle Saturday night was limited. But when he walked up to Joe "looking all sad" following the Indians' 55-28 loss, the longtime head coach told his nephew the same thing he told his players: "We won. It's not a sad day."

"What those girls accomplished, the run, the experience, the life lessons — I know we lost the game, but in the game of life, we won," Joe said. "Words can't explain it. It's been a special run and for Brendo to get to see this week was priceless."

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As for what's ahead, Brendan wants to golf (just like both his siblings) and aspires to follow in Ryan's footsteps and go to college.

"He has hopes and dreams, the same as any other kid," Jeanine said.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities that sports, our community, and our family and friends give him," she continued. "It gives him a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose. And you can't take that away from a kid."

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA girls basketball: Lake Central team manager brings joy to others