By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Preble boys’ basketball team lost eight seniors from last year’s 15-8 team due to graduation.
Between Josh Nicklaus, who is currently playing at St. Norbert College, Bryan Boockmeier, Nick Hummel, Demetrius Webster and Jack Dessaart, the Hornets lost almost 50 points a game in scoring.
Nicklaus alone scored more than 20 points a contest.
“We were hit hard by graduation, that is a fact,” said second-year head coach Andy Bobholz. “Josh brought a leadership quality the kids bought into. The seniors last year were looking for success, and we turned them loose. They were unselfish and played well together.”
In addition, senior Max Wagner has decided not to join the team this season.
Wagner, who averaged 12 points a game as a junior, is a Division I baseball commit to Clemson University.
“Max is an outstanding basketball player,” Bobholz said. “He has a great opportunity to play baseball at Clemson and do some special things. He’s going to put his efforts into his baseball this winter – I totally respect his decision.”
Boockmeier led the Fox River Classic Conference in 2018-19 in assists.
“Our offense ran through him,” said Bobholz of Boockmeier. “He could have scored a lot more, but he was able to pass the ball off to other guys. He will be a tough guy to replace.”
The main cog returning is senior Kevin Rios, who averaged 5.5 points a game last year.
“Kevin should be our main scorer this year,” Bobholz said. “He’s got the skills to be a scoring threat as a shooter and getting to the hoop. He has a full set of skills.”
Despite losing an abundance of quality players, Bobholz still has high standards.
“Our goals are to get better every day and every practice, learn and improve,” he said. “We don’t necessarily set goals on how many games we want to win during the season.”
Preble will have a different look this year.
“As far back as I can remember, we are bigger than we have been,” Bobholz said. “We could start three guys who are 6-foot-7, 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4 across the front line. We have some big guys who can play. We are inexperienced from a starting standpoint, but we have guys who are hungry to contribute and fill roles.”
Despite the Hornets’ big size, Bobholz said his team will stick to pushing the ball up the court and pressuring the basketball.
“I don’t anticipate us sitting back in a zone defensively,” he said. “We will have some zone options, but we will primarily stick to man-to-man defense.”
Bobholz said Bay Port, Sheboygan North and De Pere are the teams at the top until they are knocked off.
“Southwest won the conference last year, but they lost some players as we did,” Bobholz said. “They have a competitive program. Ashwaubenon was young last season, so they are coming in with some experience. I think it will be a tight conference.”
Green Bay Preble boys’ basketball schedule
12/13 – De Pere
12/17 – @ Green Bay Southwest
12/20 – @ Notre Dame Academy
12/26 – @ Appleton North – 5 p.m. (Kress Events Center – UWGB)
12/27 – @ Shawano Community – 1:40 p.m. (Kress Events Center)
1/3 – @ Xavier
1/7 – Sheboygan North
1/10 – @ Ashwaubenon
1/14 – Pulaski
1/17 – @ Sheboygan South
1/21 – @ Bay Port
1/24 – Manitowoc Lincoln
1/28 – @ De Pere
1/31 – Notre Dame
2/4 – Green Bay Southwest
2/7 – @ Sheboygan North
2/11 – Ashwaubenon
2/14 – @ Pulaski
2/18 – Sheboygan North
2/21 – Bay Port
2/27 – @ Manitowoc
Editor’s note: All games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.