A new – but yet familiar face – is striding the sidelines this year for the SCC Lady Storm Basketball team.

Co-head coach Lynn Schlake came over from the SCC men’s team, where he was a long-time assistant coach who worked with the post players. Schlake took over for Joel Wooton, who remains head coach of the SCC men.

Schlake helped the team into the winter break with an 8-6 record. They resume action Friday, Jan. 8, on the road at Midland JV.

The coach said he is more involved now with game planning and running the practices.

Among his early challenges was replacing sophomore point guard Shanae Collins, who injured her knee in a loss at nationally-ranked Highland Community College. Collins was averaging 10 points a contest and was one of the team’s best defenders, averaging over two steals a game.

“(It) was a big loss,” Schlake said. “The offense was built around her. But Bree (Nielson-Matthews) has stepped in and done a good job.”

The freshman from Bellerine Peninsula, Australia, is averaging 9.8 points a game and shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.

Schlake said his team played a tough schedule in the first half of the season and said the 82-78 win over Frank Phillips College in the Holiday Classic at home was probably the best overall win.

“We executed (down the stretch) and were able to hold on and get the win, “Schlake explained.

The coach said the team will be ready to go in the second half of the season.

“We have been going hard since mid-July. Hopefully we come back refreshed, hit the (second half) hard on the road to the National Tournament, “Schlake said.