By Nate Schneider
Sports Scene
Alma might be without a Seeley starring on the roster for the first time in many years, but the Panthers are still on an upward trajectory.
Maddy Seeley is now a junior on the Northwood roster after being a standout performer at Alma for four varsity years, while her sister Kenzie Seeley joined her on the Timberwolves roster this winter after also being a four-year varsity leader in high school.
But instead of taking a downturn now that there is not a Seeley highlighting so many games, the Panthers instead look like a program still on the rise.
“The bottom line is that girls are stepping up and filling the role of the girls that we lost last year,” Alma coach Scott Apple said. “We graduated six girls from last year and I feel like the program has come along in the last few years. The girls were ready to step in and replace the girls who graduated. I’ve always thought you are only as strong as your seniors. We had some juniors last year who started and others who didn’t play a lot were always ready to step in. Now they are getting their shot and showing they were ready for their turn.”
Apple says his seniors all “handle the ball well and have good court vision”, which helps lead to team basketball and balanced scoring.
Alma’s four seniors are point guard Olivia Apple, Marissa Smoker, Sydney Hanson and Abby Mellinger. Another starter, Hailey Leister, is a junior who started most games as a junior.
A key newcomer to the roster is freshman Alyssa Leister, who currently leads the Panthers in scoring with a 15 point per game average. Hailey Leister is putting in 11 points per.
Apple is averaging 5.1 steals per game and 2.5 assists this season, while junior Sophie Patrick is pulling down 6.2 rebounds per. Hailey Leister is averaging 5.7 rebounds.
The Panthers are 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Tri-Valley Conference Central after a 54-32 home win over rival Shepherd on Dec. 19. Alma is now off until its Jan. 5 date at Swan Valley.
Alma was 15-6 overall last year, finished second in the TVC Central and lost to Ithaca in districts last season.
“It was one of the best seasons Ithaca has had in quite a while,” Apple added. “We’re trying to build off that with the group we have and have another really strong year.”