DIETERICH — For nearly three decades, one voice has been on the sidelines for the Effingham girls basketball program.
Jeff Schafer has been that voice for 27 years. On Friday, Schafer reached 500 wins for his career, while the program celebrated 700 career wins with a 68-33 victory over Dieterich at Dieterich High School.
“I want to thank God for putting me in the right spot,” Schafer said. “When I got asked to do this, I told Coach (Wayne) Rubach, ‘No, I don’t have any interest in coaching girls,’ and here we are a lot of days and years later and I still love it. I’ve got great assistants — two guys have been with me for years — and that’s how you can build a program. It starts with (the assistants).”
Before Schafer was the head coach, the program struggled to achieve consistent success. The program had only one winning season in the eight seasons before Schafer took over. It took him two years to have his first winning campaign, going 14-10 in the 1999-2000 season.
Schafer strung together three straight winning seasons from 2000-2003, winning his first regional championship in 2003.
Leading up to Friday night, Schafer said he reflected on his career.
“I’ve been reflecting a lot these last few days, thinking about all the kids, coaches and supporters who have always come and watched us,” Schafer said. “The person that just left, I coached his daughter on my very first team. His wife passed away last year and that was their thing to do — come and watch Effingham girls play basketball. So, it’s nice that we can be the highlight in someone’s life.”
The Flaming Hearts finished 12-19 in the 2019-2020 season and 7-9 in the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season.
Schafer has since won 20 or more games in each of the last three years. Last season, his team won 29 basketball games.
“We’ve built something kids want to be a part of,” Schafer said.
This season will look to be Schafer’s fourth straight 20-plus win campaign.
EHS is off a 2-0 start after Friday’s victory over the Movin Maroons.
Schafer couldn’t help but smile when talking about all the players he’s coached in the past while also emphasizing the players he’s currently coaching.
“We’ve been blessed with so many great players,” Schafer said. “Getting them to buy in and do what the kids did before, I’m just really blessed. I thank God that I get to come every day and coach this team because they’re special. They play hard. They play together. My favorite play in the first half was when we kicked it out to Averie (Wolfe). She had a wide-open three but made one more pass to Bria (Beals), who nobody was by. That shows the unselfishness.
“Those girls bring it every night. I’m very fortunate to lead them.”
The Flaming Hearts led 16-8 after the first quarter on Friday night.
Eastern Illinois softball recruit Sidney Donaldson started the second frame with a pair of layups. Alyssa Martin and Bella Austin converted layups, making it 24-8 with 5:52 left in the half.
Brittney Niemerg knocked down a shot to end the EHS surge.
Martin answered with a layup. Addi Huber followed with a midrange shot to make it 26-12.
The Flaming Hearts only allowed three more points the rest of the way, heading into halftime ahead 38-15.
“We passed up some easy shots,” Schafer said. “You want them to be unselfish, but I thought we were too unselfish. We passed up some shots on the block for five-footers or three-pointers.”
EHS led 54-26 at the end of the third and outscored Dieterich 14-7 in the fourth.
Martin and Wolfe finished with 11 points each. Beals had nine. Saige Althoff and Donaldson each had eight. Tessa Raddatz had seven. Austin had five. McKenzie Love had four. Mya Harvey had three and Korina Hecht had two.
Niemerg had 17 for the Movin Maroons (0-2). Addison Miller had seven. Kady Tegeler had five and Callie Faller and Huber each had two.
Junior varsity
The Effingham JV Flaming Hearts won 49-14 over the JV Movin Maroons.
EHS led 16-6 after the first quarter, 28-12 at halftime, and 47-14 at the end of the third. The Flaming Hearts outscored Dieterich 2-0 in the fourth.
Maci Hayes had 17 points for EHS. Drew Weis and Love each had 12. Melia Wendling had six and Taylor Theis had two.
Faller had 10 for the Movin Maroons and Lena Goebel and Ava Ohnesorge each had two
Below are other girls basketball results from around the area.
Altamont 48 – Olney (Richland County) 37
The Altamont Lady Indians defeated Olney (Richland County), 48-37, in a non-conference game at Altamont High School.
Altamont led 23-7 at the end of the first quarter, 36-17 at halftime, and 48-33 at the end of the third. The Tigers outscored the Lady Indians 4-0 in the fourth.
Kaylee Lurkins scored 19 points for Altamont (1-1). Avery Aldrich had 13. Libby Reardon and Kylie Osteen each had six. Ella Nelson had three and Kennedi Schultz had one.
Pawnee 33 – Cowden (C.-Herrick)/Beecher City 18
The Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City Bobcats fell to Pawnee, 33-18, in the Nokomis 2nd Annual Tip-Off Classic.
The Indians led 8-7 after the first quarter, 23-13 at halftime, and 31-17 at the end of the third. Pawnee outscored CHBC 2-1 in the fourth.
Averie Vaughn had one point, two rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot for the Bobcats (1-1). Macee Rodman had six points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist. Ellie Miller had two points and six rebounds. Adelyn Musson had one point. Haley Doty had six points, four rebounds, two steals, and two assists and Carissa Wakefield had two points, seven rebounds, and one blocked shot.
Brownstown/St. Elmo 65 – Centralia (Christ Our Rock Lutheran) 17
The Brownstown/St. Elmo Bombers defeated Centralia (Christ Our Rock Lutheran), 65-17, in the Pana Tournament.
BSE led 27-2 after the first quarter, 42-5 at halftime, and 63-7 at the end of the third. The Silver Stallions outscored the Bombers 10-2 in the fourth.
Dayana Haslett had 29 points for BSE (3-0). Peyton Barker had eight. Jaydin Huddlestun had seven. Presley Williams had six. Addison Koonce had five. Madi Miller had four and Addie Sasse, Cami Haslett and Lydia Dash each had two.