Teutopolis Girls Head To Class 2A State Tournament Friday

Well-wishers have signs out for the Teutopolis High School girls basketball team as it heads to the Class 2A State Tournament. The Wooden Shoes will take on St. Joseph-Ogden tonight at 7:15 at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal. Thanks to Scott Brumleve who took this photo along the interstate north of Mattoon.

Competing at the State Tournament is nothing new for the Teutopolis High School girls basketball team. Over the years the Wooden Shoes have made their mark at State starting in 1983. They've actually been to State 17 years overall, winning titles in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1995 under Dennis Koester.

For Laurie Thompson teams, the Shoes have been to State five times, taking third three times and second once and now they're back again in Class 2A at Redbird Arena at Illinois State University in Normal this Friday and Saturday. Does it ever get old?

"It doesn't ever get old," said Coach Thompson. "It's so gratifying to see these kids work hard but they also work hard during their off-season. I challenge them to get better at ballhandling and shooting every year. We work hard in the summer. I'm very satisfied this group gets to go to the state tournament.

"Every year is special. I'm just enjoying an extra week in the season. I'm pretty proud of the girls. They worked hard for this. It was our goal from day one. When you take losses early in the season you say, 'oh man' but this gets us better and aims us towards what we're really after, a return to State."

Coach Thompson's team lost in the opener last year at Class 2A State to Chicago Marshall in double overtime. But they regrouped and came back to beat Eureka for third place. Five seniors and seven juniors return.

Coach Thompson talked about her starters.

"Sadie Bueker is a 5-foot-9 senior guard. Right now we look to her as one of our leaders. She is second in scoring for us. We need her to be that leader out on the floor. She has played up there a couple of years already. Hopefully she'll take on that challenge and lead us.

"Morgan Mette, a 5-foot-8 senior, played last year as well up there. She scores for us but she's going o be the kid I put on their best offensive kid. That's kinda been her role all year, that defender. I'd love for her to be able to score as well, which she can.

"Savannah Grimes, a 5-foot-6 senior, was out with a torn ACL last year. This is kinda nice for her to experience this her senior year. She'll play defense for us and has the go-ahead to score. Mainly we're looking to her defense.

"Claire Bushur, a 5-foot-10 junior, gained experience up there last year. She is our inside kid. She'll get buckets underneath and grab rebounds and scores off of them.

"Lexie Niebrugge, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, didn't get a whole lot of time there last year. I look for her to score and play good defense. She's our leading scorer. Hopefully, offensively she comes to play.

"Olivia Niemerg is our first kid off the bench. She has experience up there. I'm looking for her to take care of the ball offensively and on defense. She can do all that well. Offensively, hopefully she comes to play.

"Other players off the bench include Hope Bueker, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, and Karsyn Mette, a 5-foot-10 junior, who give Claire a break. Both can be scorers. I'm looking for that from them, along with hitting the boards and defense.

"Ciara Roepke, a 5-foot-7 junior, is the second guard off the bench. Defensively she's a very nice player and can also score. Hopefully these players can step in and fill the roll and play good defense.

"Hannah Pruemer, a 5-foot-o senior, and Emma Deters, a 5-foot-11 senior, both sit in that forward position. Hopefully they can get minutes and can give us a lift off the bench and with their height on rebounding and offensive baskets.

"The other kids, Carly Michels, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, Abby Bloemer, a 5-foot-7 junior, Alli Brumleve, a 5-foot-9 junior and Leah Schumacher, a 5-foot-8 junior, are there every night in practice. They are the scout team. People don't realize how much they help us prepare for games."

The Wooden Shoes are 32-4 on the season and will face St. Joseph-Ogden (28-4) at 7:15 p.m. Friday. In the opening Class 2A contest, Chicago Marshall (25-8) faces Hillsboro (29-5) at 5:30.

Are there any differences between last year's State squad and this one?

"I can't really give you a good answer," said Thompson. "This team is very similar. Four kids are back that had quality minutes. I still think we play really good defense like last year. Offensively, we maybe have more of an outside presense. I still have inside also. Savannah makes us different because she didn't play last year. Lexie didn't play a whole lot. Very similar teams. That's why we are successful getting back up there.

"Some nights we have had kids not hit but other nights they have stepped up and that will be important. Someone needs to step up. At times we shoot the ball real well. Defensively, at times, we look really good. I hope that we can put together four quarters of really good defense. We've had spurts this year. A lot of the games were two or three quarters. It would be nice to showcase our defense for all four quarters.

"We're not looking towards Chicago  Marshall. We have to concentrate on St. Joseph-Ogden. We played them earlier in the year and played a heckuva game. That game doesn't mean anything now. We're in season two. They will come to play and are not the same club they were early in December and neither are we.

"At this point we can't overlook anyone. I'm not allowing that at all. We are focused on St. Joseph. The other two are both good teams. We picked out a few things we're going over about those two teams but our main focus is St. Joseph."

The Wooden Shoes beat St. Joseph-Ogden 72-39 back on December 6. That was the Spartans first loss after nine victories. They suffered all four losses from  Dec. 6 to Dec. 28 in eight games. Then it was on a winning streak that has lasted from January 3 on through the regional, sectional and super-sectional for a 15-game win streak.

The Spartans have two players scoring in double figures, Bree Trimble, a 5-foot-8 senior, with 16.9 a game and Peyton Crowe, a 5-foot-8 senior, with 11.9. Hannah Dukeman averages 8.3 and Maclayne Taylor 7.7.

The winners advance to the championship game Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with the third place contest at 5:30.