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Hornets searching for victories under first-year coach

By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor


GREEN BAY – After long-time Green Bay Preble girls’ basketball Head Coach Jim Doell retired this past offseason, the Hornets were left searching for a new leader.

Enter Lyndsey Seela.

Hornets
Lyndsey Seela

Seela takes over a Hornets’ squad that finished 3-11 last season, but that included a 55-51 victory over Bay Port in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 regional game.

Preble then lost to De Pere in the next round, 62-28, to end its season.

“My coaching started in Colorado,” Seela said. “I’m originally from Coleman, but then I went to Carroll University to play ball and got my master’s degree in sports performance psychology, which led me into coaching.”

Seela coached two years in Colorado and then coached at the college level for six or seven years, including being the head coach at Marian University in Fond du Lac.

“After my college coaching, I put things on pause for a few years,” Seela said. “I tried something different for a few years, but now I’m back.”

Seela said it’s a little daunting taking over for Doell.

“I always wanted to get back into high school coaching, but I was waiting for the right timing,” she said. “(Doell) built a great program and did great things with everything he touched. I can’t look at him and compare myself, but if I’m to be honest, I do feel a little pressure. Overall, I feel comfortable.”

Seela, who was hired in late July, said not coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic was positive for her coming into this season.

“I don’t know any different now,” she said. “The amount of burnout coaches went through last year was difficult. I didn’t have to feel that – it feels fairly normal for me this season. The girls come in with their masks but know they don’t have to wear them during exertion. I know the girls well, but there are some new faces with new talent – it’s exciting.”

Part of the reasons the Hornets struggled last season were because of their late start – like the other three Green Bay Area Public Schools had to deal with – and also not having the services of senior Carley Duffney, an all-stater now playing at the University of South Dakota, a Division I college in Vermillion.

Duffney tore the ACL in her knee in July 2020 and missed the season.

“We believe we can be a competitive team,” Seela said. “Being a new head coach, I’m redefining my role. It’s free will for these girls. For years, they’ve been told to do it one way, so I think there’s a benefit to maybe being able to do it another way – something new and naïve. I feel strongly these girls will work hard.”

Sophomore Helena Paphlam returns as the Hornets’ leading scorer from last season, averaging 11.3 points per game.

“We’re getting to know each other,” Seela said of Paphlam. “She’s got some skills. We’re excited to improve those skills, challenge her and make her better. She has a good basketball IQ and has experience.”

Seela said her team lacks experience and height.

“I won’t hide the fact we aren’t tall,” she said. “We’ll be an active team and make people run. We’re not a legitimate run-and-gun team, but we’ll use our quickness to our advantage.”

Besides Duffney, Preble lost seven other seniors due to graduation.

“People have told me what we lost,” Seela said. “I recognize a few names, but again, I only recently came back into the basketball world and didn’t know much about last year’s team. New and naïve will be good for us.”


2021-22 Green Bay Preble girls’ basketball regular-season schedule

12/3 – Manitowoc Lincoln

12/9 – @ Green Bay Southwest

12/14 – @ De Pere

12/17 – Cedarburg Tournament – 5:45 p.m.

12/18 – Cedarburg Tournament – 5:45 p.m.

12/30 – @ Neenah – 7:30 p.m.

1/4 – @ Sheboygan North

1/7 – Ashwaubenon

1/11 – @ Pulaski

1/14 – Sheboygan South

1/18 – @ Bay Port

1/21 – @ Manitowoc Lincoln

1/25 – Green Bay Southwest

1/28 – @ Notre Dame Academy

2/1 – De Pere

2/4 – @ Ashwaubenon

2/8 – Sheboygan North

2/11 – @ Sheboygan South

2/15 – Pulaski

2/17 – Bay Port

Sports editor’s note: All games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

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