IHSA Announcements

The Class A all-time all-tournament team celebrating the first 25 years of girls basketball has been selected in a poll of statewide news media. Results of the poll were announced Thursday (Feb 22) at the State Farm March Madness Celebration Banquet in the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.

The 10-member team includes three players from perennial powerhouse Teutopolis. Representing the Lady Shoes are three-time all-tournament selection Doris Carie (1984-85-86), three-time all-tournament selection Vicki Klingler (1988-89-90) and two-time all-tournament selection Marie Niebrugge (1995 and 97). In addition, two other three-time all-tournament selections made the squad. They were all-time state final scoring leader Courtney Porter of Hume (Shiloh) (1988-89-90) and all-time state final rebounding leader Courtney Smith of Carlyle (1995-96-97).

Rounding out the team were Beth Hasenmiller of Elgin (St. Edward) (1985-86), Michelle Hasheider of Oakwville (1993-94), Cindy Kaufmann of Seneca (1987), Molly McDowell of Nokomis (1998-99) and Susan Wellman of Quincy (Notre Dame) (1983-84).

Porter scored 241 points in 12 state final tournament games, averaging 20.1. She is the co-leader in career steals with 30 and was a dynamic shooting guard for Shiloh. Smith was a force everywhere for Carlye. In nine state final games she averaged 25.8 points and 12.4 rebounds. Her career 233 points are third on the all-time list, her career 112 rebounds is the best, her career 43 assists is the record, her 91 free throws attempted is the record and her 57 free throws made is the record. She also holds the single-tournament record for rebounds with 46.

Carie was the first Class A super-star, leading Teutopolis to three straight trips to the championship game from 1984-86, finally personally taking them to the title in 1986. In 10 state final games she averaged 21.1 points per game. The 6-0 Niebrugge averaged 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in nine tournament games, and shares the record for career steals at 30. She ranks 13th all-time in career rebounds with 65. Klingler, another 6-footer for the Lady Shoes, averaged 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in her nine state final games. Her 62 career rebounds ranks 16th all-time.

McDowell holds the all-time record for points in a tournament with 87 in 1998, shares the all-time career steal mark at 30, and owns the single-tournament assist mark of 26. She single-handedly took Nokomis to the 1999 title with superb games in the semifinals and finals. In between those two games she earned the Country Companies Three-Point Showdown Queen of the Hill crown, drilling nine.

Kaufmann played in only the 1987 state final, but she scored 86 points in three games (28.7 average) and pulled down 38 rebounds (12.7 average). She held the single-tournament record for points scored until McDowell broke it. Michelle Hasheider and his sister Beth each earned all-tournament honors in 1993-94. Michelle scored 135 points in seven state final games, including 12 three-pointers.

The 6-foot Wellman was a pillar in the paint for Notre Dame, scoring 124 points and pulling down 74 rebounds in 10 state final games. Wellman ranks 8th all-time in career rebounds and 14th in career scoring. Hasenmiller played taller than her listed 6-0 for St. Edward. In just six state final games she averaged 16.2 points and 12.7 rebounds. Hasenmiller’s rebound total of 76 ranks sixth all-time.

The first girls state final tournament was played in 1977. The state series was conducted in a single-class format its first three years. The two-class system began in 1980. Players in the three single-class state finals are being considered for the Class AA all-time all-tournament team to be announced March 1.