WASHINGTON COUNTY, Illinois — Washington County, Illinois, is basketball crazy to start the year.
Okawville and Nashville High Schools are separated by just 15 minutes in southern Illinois. In 2024, both could bring girls basketball state titles back to Washington County.
The Okawville Rockets are looking to make it two in a row at Class 1A. The team won it all in 2023 and returned a veteran team looking for a repeat.
That experience will come in handy as Okawville begins final four play on Thursday in Normal.
"Last year we went up there not really knowing what it was all about. But knowing what the atmosphere is like and how our community supports us... we're excited to take another trip back up there," Okawville senior Alayna Kraus said.
"It's definitely a benefit. They've been there and know the feeling a little bit. I don't think it's going to change their nerves or anything like that because they're just competitive and that's part of being a player. I hope they have some nerves because it's just an awesome experience. But being on that floor, experiencing that atmosphere shooting at those rims already is definitely something that is good for us," Okawville head coach Haylee Bowers said.
"We already know what to expect and what to do. And now we just have one goal. To win," Okawville senior Madisyn Wienstroer said.
"I think the nerves won't be as high because we've already been there before. And it helps us with the younger girls playing, just to help prepare them for what it's going to be like," Okawville senior Raelyn Obermeier said.
Something else Okawville and Nashville have in common this season is the schedule. Both played the best of the best in southern Illinois, often taking on larger powerhouses like Alton, O'Fallon and Breese Central. That experience is also paying off come playoff time.
"It made us better. Playing these amazing teams brought out our weaknesses but made us stronger," Wienstroer said.
"We played a lot of bigger schools, a lot of 3A, 4A schools. But I think in the end it definitely has prepared us. A lot of teams have outsized us this year. So that's been a major factor that we've been able to prepare for," Kraus said.
"This year was a little bit different because we did have more losses going into postseason but they were to ranked 2A, 3A, 4A teams that are really good and talented. And we hung with them, which was good," Bowers said.
When it's all said and done, the seniors on this team could be two-time state champions, and leave behind a basketball legacy in their small town of Okawville. That fact is not lost on the players, or their head coach.
"It's awesome. A lot of hard work has gone into it, so it's nice to see it paying off," Okawville senior Adysen Harre said.
"It would just be the best way to finish senior year," Okawville senior Mallory Bening said.
"Amazing. It's the best thing that could ever happen. We've all worked so hard our whole lives to get to this point and we feel like the weight's off our shoulders now. We just get to have fun and play together one last time," Wienstroer said.
"It's definitely something special for our grade. In 7th and 8th grade we want back to back in junior high, so doing it again would be special for our class," Okawville senior Maggie Sawicki said.
"I think it's really brought a lot of the community together. It's just brought back basketball. It used to be 'boys basketball, boys basketball'. Now it's a lot of, 'Let's go watch the girls.' And it has helped a lot of the younger generations come and just support. Now watching the young girls come up and want to be like us is really just helping our community and our school," Obermeier said.
"We know this is the last time we're going to get to play with people we've been with forever... and we definitely want to go out with a win," Kraus said.
"When they leave, their legacy is going to keep going. At the super-sectional we saw all those little girls in our student section, and I told them (the current Okawville team) 'They're looking up at you'. And I'd want my kid looking up at them because they're that good of people," Bowers said.
Fifteen minutes down the road, the Nashville Hornettes have history of their own. The team won it all in 2013, and this year's team has been thinking about adding another banner to the assembly hall for a long time.
"We had that goal in mind at the beginning of the season... Some of our coaches were on that state championship team and they know what it takes, so they've been helping us," Nashville sophomore Emma Behrmann said.
"This is all I've wanted my whole life. Freshman year to now we've grown so much as a program," Nashville senior Abby Knepp said.
"I love this team so much and it means the world to me to go to state and hopefully put another banner up on the wall," Nashville senior Makenzy Pedtke said.
Like Okawville, the Hornettes have played a demanding schedule this year at 2A. So far, Nashville excelled with a 32-3 record, all while starting three freshmen.
"It's all about perspective, right? Everyone says that now everybody is good at once it's tougher to go to state. But I think it's great for the girls game. It's great having opponents that can compete and get after it," Nashville head coach Dempsey Witte said.
"We've been in those pressure situations because of those big games, so that really helped us to stay present in these postseason games," Behrmann said.
Two of those starting freshmen are twins Samathana and Summer Brinkman. It's a connection that has paid dividends for the Hornettes so far in their young careers.
"We always know where each other is at on the court." Samantha said.
"People think we have telepathy on the court. But we just know where each other is at." Summer said.
Now, another banner for Nashville is within reach. And these Hornettes know all they have to do is grab it.
"You can really see the community come together. Everyone wants to come out and watch you play," Pedtke said "It would be the best experience of my entire life."
"It would mean a lot to go and win it. We're going to battle and even see if we can get to the championship first," Witte said.
Okawville will play Peru (St. Bede) in the semifinals on Thursday, with Nashville taking on Robinson later that day. With a win in the semifinals, both teams would play for a state title on Saturday.
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