BY JACK BULLOCK Time to say “goodbye” to an old friend. One of those friends that you didn't mind taking a beating from “year after year” in sports. The Teutopolis Wooden Shoes, a dominating force in the National Trail Conference for over 70 years, have decided it is time to move on. This move will bring a close to one of the most brilliant runs in this league's long history. The end of an era unmatched in this writer's mind. The Wooden Shoes sports program has simply outgrown this league and, other than Effingham St. Anthony, they really don't have a rival in this conference when it comes to boy's basketball. At the end of this school year, Teutopolis will become an Independent. But for one last campaign they will still be NTC. T-Town lost four starters from its 29-3 team that lost on a last second shot to Pittsfield in last season's Springfield 2A Supersectional. With one starter back, the Wooden Shoes will rebuild. But it's not like it is a big chore or anything. Considering all of the talented kids that have roamed the halls of this institution, it isn't rebuilding, it is just someone else's turn. ABV trusts that Coach Andy Fehrenbacher will have the Wooden Shoes ready when the season begins. A look at the 'Shoes history will tell you all you need to know about this community and its passion for basketball. T-Town has a staggering 1,659-672 won/loss mark in 87 years of boy's high school basketball. They sport 25 regional titles, eight sectional titles and of their six quarterfinal appearances they own three trophies, a third place finish in 2007, a second place finish in 2000 and its only state title from the 33-0 1986 championship season. Effingham St. Anthony is always ready for a basketball season. This program has been very good over the years in this conference and in the postseason. They don't have as many wins or as many seasons under their belt as Teutopolis, but they have just as rich of a tradition. The Bulldogs have 18 regional titles, five sectional titles and four state finals (quarterfinal) appearances in its 72 seasons. St. A has a streak of 16 consecutive seasons with at least 20-wins and its all-time total of wins is now at 1,251. While programs like Teutopolis and St. Anthony produce great teams each year, there are smaller schools in this league that have a “once in a lifetime” season. Windsor had that happen to them last winter as the Blue Devils, long the fodder of this conference, rose up and took advantage of the talent that they had and the four-class system in which they played in to win its first regional title since 1959-60. Catching “lightning in a bottle” Windsor won its first sectional game and finally lost to Chrisman in the championship game of the Danville Schlarman 1A Sectional. But unlike those two at the top of this league, Windsor doesn't have the talent pool to dip into year after year and the Blue Devils will remember their moment in the sun from last season as they introduce a new coach Josh Forsythe with nearly all new players in 2011-12. Neoga will also have a new mentor in place as Clay Haurberg was named the head coach after Jason Hanson stepped down at the end of last season. The Indians won its own regional title last season with a win over Dieterich in the finale. Speaking of those Movin' Maroons, head coach Jamie VanScyoc has four returning starters back from the 15-12 team with a look to improve its postseason chances. Altamont and head coach Doug Hill will have to replace all five of its starters from last season's 18-11 club while Stewardson-Strasburg mentor Shane Smith has some size and talent back from a 10-19 team. The rest of the teams from this league that are also members of the Egyptian Illini Conference are showcased on another page on this site. As for the final season of the National Trail Conference with Teutopolis as a member, don't bet against the Wooden Shoes going out in style.

1. TEUTOPOLIS It is so difficult to even fathom picking anyone else as the champion of this conference this season. It seems like every time ABV did this over the years it never panned out. The end of last season was rough on everyone in this town. The Shoes were just seconds away from its fourth “Final Four” in the boy's basketball programs' history when Pittsfield shocked the Shoes on a last second shot to end the T-Town dream campaign at 29-3. The highlights from last season were many. Championships won at the Lawrence County Capital Classic and the National Trail Conference Tournament. They picked up regional and sectional titles last season before the Pittsfield loss. They were runners up at the Charleston Holiday Tournament and won the regular season NTC title at 10-0. Just another day in paradise at this school. Gone from the group are six seniors who were outstanding athletes for this school. Not only were these kids great on the hardwood, but they excelled on the diamond as well. The Wooden Shoes won back-to-back 2A state baseball championships before they graduated last spring. Derek Thompson, Nick Schumacher, Bo Blievernicht, Trey Braun, Brett Deters and Blake Thoele were essential to the two year success in those two sport seasons. That half dozen averaged 55.7 points a game of the 66.1 that Teutopolis averaged in 2010-11. In fact with the injury bug biting the Shoes last season, T-Town only had three of its players (Schumacher, Braun, Thompson) that played in all 32-games but still managed to win 29 of them. The lone starter coming back for Teutopolis is 6-foot-2 senior guard Mark Niebrugge. Niebrugge averaged 7.4 points and 4.6 assists last season in 28 contests. He was one of the leaders last season and will continue to thrive in that role. He had some knee issues this past summer that should be healed up by the time Teutopolis tackles the Lawrence County Capital Classic the first weekend of the season. The rest of the starters and reserves from this season will come from what ABV calls the “Clean Up Crew.” Quality athletes who finished off games in the final minutes. Their numbers weren't staggering but they were part of important games. That experience makes them more game ready for this season. The list begins with two more seniors, 6-foot Jon Mette and 6-foot Lee Deters. Both averaged just under three points a game for Coach Fehrenbacher last season. Mette was good around the basket for a guard, grabbing 3.3 rebounds. Three juniors that came off the bench for Teutopolis last as sophomores return. Six-foot-two forward Derek Smith (1.6 p.p.g.) and 6-foot-5 forward Kyle Pruemer (1.1 p.p.g.) return as does 6-foot-2 forward Jared Waldhoff. Those six are the core but there will always be help right down the bench at this school. “We lost a great group of seniors from last season with a ton of talent. We only return on starter in Mark Niebrugge but he is questionable to start the season due to having surgeries on both knees during the summer,” said Coach Fehrenbacher who is 67-19 in his three seasons as the head coach. “Lee Deters and Jon Mette are returning seniors who played a lot for us and gained valuable experience and will be steady for us. Three juniors might be the key for us this season with Smith, Pruemer and Waldhoff all needing to step up into starting roles for us. I expect them to make a big impact on our team. The rest of the spots are up for grabs.” Some of those spots could be filled by a group of incoming freshman class that won the Class 3A state title in seventh grade while finishing second place in eighth. OUTLOOK – When you look at this program many things standout. Wins over the years, legendary coaches, great fans that travel well, etc. But one thing that ABV noticed last season when looking through the 25th anniversary program at the school celebrating the 1986 championship team were the numbers. In the roster of kids from varsity on down to freshman and sophomores ABV counted 51 kids. That is 51 players at a school of just over 400. That means that roughly 25 percent of the boy's from this school are good enough to get a uniform. Not unlike some other traditional programs, being a “Wooden Shoe” is a BIG DEAL in this community. It shows two important facts. There is a lot of talent in this school and that these kids grow up watching the players wearing Blue and Gold and want to be just like them when they get older. It is something that can't be coached or taught. It can only be experienced. They don't hold a copyright to this success, they have just done it better than nearly every program in the state. As for this season, don't believe for an instant that 20-wins won't happen. ABV projects they win their final two NTC championships, regular season and tournament, and that they will once again be a major postseason threat.

2. ST. ANTHONY These Bulldogs would love to send Teutopolis out of this conference with a second place finish. These rivals have been at each other's throats for decades in what ABV believes is the state's biggest and best rivalry. It isn't bitter or sweet, just somewhere in between. The Bulldogs lost to Teutopolis three times last season, including the title game of the Flora 2A Regional, 59-41. it was the final game of an otherwise very successful 23-6 campaign (9-1 NTC) in which they won their own Holiday Tournament. Head coach Mark Tovey finished up his first season as the Bulldogs mentor and must now figure out a way of replacing his top three scorers from that club. James Jansen, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, was a varsity standout since his sophomore season and finished out his prep career averaging a team-high 19 points a game. Six-foot-seven senior Ryan Schmitt (11 points, 7.8 rebounds) is also gone as is 6-foot-2 senior Kit Koerner (11 p.p.g.). Another senior starter was 5-foot-9 guard Ryan Ragland. Those four were the keys to a lot of success. Rebuilding and reloading is nothing new to the Bulldogs. Coach Tovey has eight players back from that team last season who he feels will take command. Reed Willeborg, a 6-foot-3 senior, is back for St. Anthony along with is a 6-foot-1 senior Mitchell Dust. Also on the list of returning players is 6-foot-5 senior Patrick Grunloh and 6-foot senior Scott Deters. Coach Tovey added the names of some underclassmen who could also help out. Jacob Schuette who is a 6-foot-3 junior along with 6-foot-5 junior Jason Vogel. Two sophomores made the list with 6-foot-1 Neil Williams and 6-foot-2 John Goeckner appearing ready to step up after good freshman seasons. As with this program there are always other kids that will be ready for playing time. “We lost the majority of our scoring from last year but we have a solid nucleus of talent in the program,” said Coach Tovey. “We're looking forward to another successful campaign.” OUTLOOK – This team looks to have a lot of size and the guards with have some quickness. The usual Bulldog basketball team. Like their rivals to the East, the last names are the same year in and year out, it is just the first names that change. St. Anthony will challenge Teutopolis for NTC championships once again and their February 7th date at home vs. the Wooden Shoes will decide the title. Coach Tovey did a good job with what he inherited last season and despite the graduation losses, look for the Bulldogs to be very good again in 2011-12.

3. DIETERICH Head coach Jamie VanScyoc heads into his 11th season running the Movin' Maroons program and he has four returning starters from last season's regional runner up. Dieterich did send away a couple of good seniors (Sam Thoele and Taran Bohnhoff) to graduation but those four returning hope to take this team to its second regional title in boy's basketball with the first coming in 2008. “We will be a small experienced team this year but what we lack in size we will make up with in speed,” said Coach VanScyoc. “We will look to do a lot of running again this year and will be a perimeter based team. We will have to be quick with the ball and make good sound decisions. Every possession for us will be important.” Called a 'hard-nosed” player by Coach VanScyoc is 6-foot junior Seth Flach. Flach is one of the best athletes at the school and can play all five positions on the floor. He brings back solid numbers from his sophomore season 98.6 points, 4.6 rebounds) and those should move up accordingly to need. He is also considered by this coach to be a very good defender. Another junior guard in the Dieterich mix is 5-foot-11 Nathan Garbe, who should share ballhandling duties with Flach while being one of the team's top threats from outside. Garbe grabbed 2.3 rebounds a game and is one of the top returning scorers with 9.8 p.p.g. Perhaps the best shooter returning is 5-foot-11 junior Derek Cox, who is also good handling the ball. Cox showed last year that he could score as he was one of four Maroon players who averaged double-figures with 10.2 points a night. Those three junior guards will help the backcourt stability. Coach VanScyoc will have another guard, 5-foot-10 sophomore Dalton Hinterscher, who was one of the starters on the varsity this winter. Hinterscher played in all 27 varsity matchups last season and led the Maroons with 11.8 p.p.g. Up front will be a key for Dieterich with 6-foot-4 senior Addam Dahnke returning to give Coach VanScyoc some size in the middle. Neil Thoele is also back for his senior season. Thoele got in over half of the games last season for the Maroons and his minutes should increase. Those six would be enough to get most fans excited but this coach has more artillery up his sleeve heading into the season. Austin Bushue, a 5-foot-10 junior, should be in a backcourt rotation while classmate 6-foot-2 Brandon Westjohn returns. Coach VanScyoc added the names of three sophomores; 5-foot-8 Tanner Traub, 5-foot-8 Jake Bohnhoff and 6-foot Josh Campbell to the possibles list. Bushue and Traub were the only two who showed up on the varsity stat sheet from 2010-11. “In order for us to be successful we are going to have to be able to do a lot of things right. We will need to find a leader on this team and to rebound. We will also need to take care of the basketball and shoot a higher percentage from the free throw line this year,” said Coach VanScyoc, who is 190-93 in his ten seasons a the head coach. “We will also have to be consistent in our shooting from all ranges and play solid defense. Some of the other big keys are team chemistry and everyone is going to have to know what their role is and accept it if we want to be successful. I feel that if we can bring all these things together that we could have a really special season.” OUTLOOK – If it weren't for the Big Two in this league this young, quick club could be up for a run at the league championship. But since it isn't a reality, the Maroons can do the next best thing. Make a strong run at the conference title anyway and put themselves in position to grab themselves another regional title. If this squad can use their quickness to its advantage they could end up with several more wins than they got last season.

5. STEWARDSON-STRASBURG The Comets, under first year head coach Shane Smith, last season struggled with a 10-19 overall mark and went just 4-6 in the National Trail Conference. The unceremoniously were bounced right out of the postseason by Cowden-Herrick at the Neoga 1A Regional, 65-59. This program has had some good teams in the past but just couldn't reach those lofty goals. Injuries have taken away some good players from this program in the recent past, keeping Stew-Stras from taking advantage of the four-class system like some others have. Coach Smith has some kids back that were part of that learning experience most schools go through when a new coach takes over. Look for some improvement here this season despite some graduation departures. Luke Rincker, Matt Tabbert and Lucas Helton are gone and so goes the senior experience. When you have backcourt players returning with experience it is a plus and Stewardson-Strasburg has just that. Zach Rincker, a 5-foot-11 senior play maker, returns to the guard position for the Comets after having a pretty good junior season. Rincker averaged about seven points a game for S-S in 2010-11. Nick Ferris is a 6-foot senior guard who also returns after being in that seven point range also. Ferris and Rincker should form a pretty salty backcourt tandem for this 1A level. Up front look for Austin Carson, a 6-foot-4 senior, to have a turn at starting. This kid showed last season he could play facing the basket as he hit some 3-point shots and connect on well over half of his 2-point attempts. Six-foot-four senior Wade Mathis got into a lot of games last season and started one contest according to Coach Smith. He added just a few points, here and there, to the totals last season. More offense from this player should be expected this season. Justin Fulk, a 6-foot-3 junior, also lettered last winter. “We have three returning starters this year with a lot of valuable experience and maturity. I think my top players can compete with any school our size in the area,” said Coach Smith. “We have three to four guys who have the abilities to score in double figures. As the second year in the system, those who are back know the system and have the drive to be successful. Nick, Zach and Austin have experience to lead our ball club well; Wade brings good post defense and rebounding while Justin should give us some low block scoring punch.” OUTLOOK – As of this writing, depth may be a question mark for the Comets but the starting unit looks solid. Other than the top two in this conference, anyone could beat anyone. Stewardson-Strasburg could finish anywhere from third to seventh in the National Trail, but look for them to turn those won/loss numbers around this season and to be a bigger regional threat than last season.

6. NEOGA Clay Haurberg takes over as Indian chief after Jason Hanson stepped down last spring. This program lost five seniors to graduation. Travis Cornell (13.5p.p.g., 7.0 r.p.g.), Dalton McFarland (7.6 p.p.g., 4.0 r.p.g.), Tyler Pikowski (6.3 p.p.g.), Jake Cole (2.2 p.p.g.) and Nick Bright (1.0 p.p.g.) However this Tribe has a couple of starters back from a 17-13 regional titlist and this new coach looks to build around those two vets. TJ Roy, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, averaged 12.7 points per game last season for the team that lost to Red Hill at the Altamont 1A Sectional. The other returning starter for Neoga is Adam Probst, a 5-foot-8 senior guard (8.7 p.p.g., four r.p.g.). Those two have the most varsity credentials heading into 2011-12. Two other seniors are back for Neoga. Six-foot-three forward Kyle Ludwig returns to give this coach some size up front to work with. Dalton Roberts, a 6-foot senior, is also back for Neoga. Joey Smyser is a 5-foot-7 senior guard who played sparingly as a junior on varsity. Look for Cole McKimmy, a 6-foot-3 junior, to see varsity minutes for Neoga as will 6-foot-2 junior Riley Walk. Coach Haurberg mentioned some newcomers to the varsity. Six-foot sophomore Jake Baker and 6-foot junior Matt Hall made the list as did Seth Kline, a 6-foot-2 senior. Brandon Maroon, a 5-foot-10 junior, and 5-foot-9 junior Derek Williamson will also be a part of the varsity when Neoga opens its season at the always tough Lawrence County Capital Classic. "Our guard play should be a strong point this season. We have most of our experience at that position. Quickness in the backcourt should be a big plus for us on both offense and defense. We have a lot of things we can do defensively to take advantage of our quickness, and we expect to see that play a major role in our team's success this season," said Coach Haurberg, who was previously a head coach at Galva High School. OUTLOOK – ABV got to see Neoga play twice last season, both losses to Egyptian and Red Hill. The two things noticeable in both of the losses is that they didn't shoot the ball well enough to win against a bigger opponent in Red Hill and they weren't nearly quick enough to hang with Egyptian. It looks like they will have a bit more size this season but the question remains whether or not they are going to be fast enough to make a dent in this conference and any of the three tournaments that they play in. The schedule that they play doesn't have many cupcakes on it.

7. WINDSOR Last season head coach Bruce Austin and his Blue Devils made a lot of people at this victory starved school very happy campers. Windsor not only won 26-games but it also won a regional for the first time in 50-years! With a win over Arthur 66-53 at the Arcola 1A Regional and then a 20-point victory over 2009 state champion Macon Meridian at the Danville Schlaman sectional, everything was rolling along. But the end of the line came at the hands of Chrisman, who knocked the wind out of the Windsor sails with a 73-65 loss in the title game. The Blue Devils had a magical season. It was even more improbable because of where this program was at when this coach took over. When Austin took the helm, Windsor went 29-138 in seven seasons. However in 2009-10 the Devils started showing some signs that things were turning around with double-digit wins (10-15) and with some good players returning, 2010-11 looked to be on paper like a winning season. With four starters returning and a key transfer coming in to the program it all fell into place. Austin, citing wanting to spend more time with his family, resigned last spring. Six of the top seven players from that great team have vanished via the graduation parade. Ryne Floyd, Kyle Floyd and Bryn Price all graduated along with Zachary Weber, Sidney Edwards and Braden Stremming. Those six together notched 54.9 points a game. Just 15 points shy of the team total average. Josh Forsythe now has the head coaching position and the chore of putting together the 2011-12 team. But this doesn't look like a total make over. There are some kids back who experience the fun of last season and should keep the bar raised high. Just one player is back that had significant varsity experience from last season. Andy Cole, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, who played in all 30 games and averaged right a two points a contest. One of his stats is important to look at. He had right at one assist a game with limited time. He will likely the guard who takes over the point guard duties, or at least shares them. Coach Forsythe has four other seniors back from last season's junior varsity and varsity who now have the opportunity. Six-foot senior Jake Gilbert was part of the club last season in a reserve role. He got into a handful of varsity games for the Blue Devils. Brandon Beem is a 6-foot-2 senior forward who also got into a few A-games. Six-foot-four senior forward Garrett Haddock and 5-foot-11 senior guard Landon Hayward are also in the competition for starting assignments. Six-foot-three junior forward Trey Leasher showed up on the radar last season as did three sophomores that Coach Forsythe expects to help. Six-foot-four forward Rylan Ard, 5-foot-11 Hayden Cole and 5-foot-11 Alex Allen should all have a shot at varsity playing time. “We have a very good group of kids who are coach-able and hard workers with good attitudes and work ethics,” said Coach Forsythe, whose coaching background includes being an assistant coach at both Cumberland and Forreston. “This will help make up for our lack of varsity experience. I am confident that we will put a team on the floor each night that will give our community and school something to be proud of.” OUTLOOK – After having such a rough stretch, it was good to see the Windsor program put together such a nice run. Don't expect a carbon copy of last season in 2011-12. There is a lot of work to be done for this new coach and the players who watched the games from the bench last season will have to step up this winter. The good news is that most of the kids coming back got to scrimmage against one of the best 1A teams South of Springfield all of last season. ABV projects an above .500 mark and a continuation of quality basketball in Blue Devil Nation.

9. ALTAMONT Graduation took a lot away from this coach and program from the 2010-11 season as Doug Hill will have to replace a lot of minutes from that team that lost to St. Elmo in the semifinals of the St. Elmo 1A Regional, 47-42. Seven seniors, including all five starters, are gone from that 18-11 team. Three of the players missing, Jordan McGinnis, Brandon Duckwitz and Jacob Jahraus were double-figure scorers while McGinnis was also tops in rebounding with 9.4 per game. The Indians will rebuild starting with four seniors that played a bit last season off the Altamont bench. Those reserves turned starters include Cody Drone, a 6-foot-1 senior, who averaged 2.6 p.p.g. As a junior varsity player mostly in 2010-11, Drone was very good offensively and that prowess could translate into a lot of points at the varsity level this winter. Six-foot-three center Jason Hooks played in 26 games last season as a back up. His production was modest but important, 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds a contest. Shooting guard Dustin Gordon is a 6-foot senior who will likely inherit the “two” slot in the backcourt to start the season. Another senior guard returning, 5-foot-11 Mitch Wolff, got into action 13 times last season. Those four have the most time served returning from that club. Coach Hill mentioned four other players with potential, three juniors and a sophomore. Five-foot-eleven junior guard Logan Hill is versatile in that Coach Hill thinks he can play three different positions. He will likely have some point guard duties in his future as well as being able to get teams respect from outside offensively. Jon Kuhns, a 5-foot-11 junior, can play inside or out. Defensively Coach Hill says this one can play very physical, a toughness that is handy to have around the program. You can say the same thing about 6-foot-1 junior forward Ryan Mayhaus. Perhaps the strongest player in the post for Altamont, Mayhaus will be very important for the Indians this season. The one sophomore mentioned is 5-foot-9 point guard Garrett Ziegler. Ziegler could find himself either starting in the backcourt or one of the first off the bench. Wind sprints and squeaking basketball footwear will take care of the rest of the Altamont roster. “this year's group of players had a great summer and have been working very hard in the off-season to get ready for our tough schedule,” said Coach Hill, who is 231-138 in his 13 seasons at Altamont. “This group has a nice mix of speed, strength and natural athletiic ability. We have sever people that can be very strong in a certain skill set; shooting, rebounding, defending, running the floor, etc. They work hard and are mentally tough. We will have to be mentally tough to get through another grinding schedule.” OUTLOOK – This coach has gotten a lot of mileage out of some good players over the years. The Indians lost a lot of production from graduation but there is no reason to think that the Altamont team for 2011-12 will work any less hard than any of this coach's previous teams. They don't have a lot of size so they will need to use their quickness to its advantage. Altamont should have another good, if not great season. With them sitting at 1A in enrollment, they are a postseason threat. They will look to defend their St. Elmo Holiday Tournament title and could meet up with St. Elmo, in what could be a regional title game preview. The two teams could meet up to five times this season.