On Saturday, February 8th, the Okawville Lady Rockets basketball team played in the Luechtefeld Gym to honor the 25th anniversary of the 2000 state championship team. Although the Orena is a special gym, the Luechtefeld gym holds memories and connects the past with the present. The players that were in attendance on Saturday were Jamie Schrader (Buss), Kelsey Klingneburg (Huselsman), Kristen Wiedwilt (Turner), Megan Brockmeier (McClean), Erica Geppert (Killion), Erica Barkau (Ibendahl). Not present players were, Shana Stricker, Jenny Heckert, Joan Miller, Katie Hasheider, Angie Schersahl, Justine Krueger, Cheryl Borrenpohl, Lauren Borrenpohl, Kelly Hasheider, Natalie Shurbert, Rachel Shubert, Kristen Lehde. The 3 coaches were Coach Kathy Lanter, Coach Vicki Martens, and Coach Schneider.
The Lady Rockets team finished 3rd in state in 1999. They came up just short that season but there was no doubt that it was a good season. After some minor adjustments and a very tough schedule, they accomplished their goal and made it back to state. The Lady Rockets were ranked number 1 in the Post Dispatch small schools poll and number 1 in the Associated Press class A state poll during the entire season. The Lady Rockets ended their season 33-1, having their only loss being from Central High School during the Mascoutah Holiday Tournament. After their great regular season, they finished 25-1 while they were heading into the postseason. Regionals were held at New Athens high school where they played Gibault for the regional championship and took the win 79-44. In the sectional, the ladies defeated Shawnee 82-48 and Sparta 68-52 to claim the sectional title. The Lady Rockets team then went to Nashille where they beat Harrisburg 63-38 for the Super Sectional title. This win propelled them to the State Quarterfinal at Redbird Arena. They played undefeated Seneca and beat them 57-48. The Lady Rockets kept Seneca scoreless in the 2nd quarter becoming the first ever Class A team to keep their opponent scoreless during a whole quarter. After that, the girls played Elmhurst Timothy Christan and defeated them easily with a final score of 46-29. After that win, the Lady Rockets would then play Lewistown for the state championship. Coach Lanter said,”Before the game began, I felt sorry for Lewistown because the look in her team’s eyes told her what their opponent was in for.” The Lady Rockets went on to beat Lewistown 73-49, and brought home the state championship trophy. Jamie Schrader was named to the First Team Associated Press All Tournament team and sisters Kelly and Katie Hasheider were named to the Second Team All-Tourney Team.
After the ceremony, the 2024-2025 Lady Rockets took the floor in the Luechtefeld Gym against the Pinckneyville Panthers. The Lady Rockets had a good crowd and knew they had to play well to get the win. The Lady Rockets came ready to play with a first quarter score of 13-9. The second quarter had people on their toes and both teams were tired but the Lady Rockets managed to keep their lead by 8 with a halftime score of 28-20. The Lady Rockets knew that the 3rd quarter was the most important quarter of the game, and they worked hard. After the 3rd quarter, they were up 37-27. The fourth quarter was going to come down to effort, and the Lady Rockets wanted it more. They ended up winning 51-43. Kenley Hackstadt led the team with 16 points and Brynn Rhodes had 14. The Lady Rockets are back in action on Monday, February 10th at home vs. Central.
