EFFINGHAM — The 2026 Effingham Daily News All-Area Boys’ Basketball Defensive Team consists of players from 16 surrounding schools.
Coaches from the teams with winning records were asked to submit their best defensive players. All of the statistics were finalized at the conclusion of the regular season.
Altogether, there is one team, featuring 10 players.
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Gavin Addis
Teutopolis, 6-3, Sr., F
Parkland College baseball recruit. Recorded 63 defensive rebounds, 30 steals, 10 blocks, 6 charges and 46 deflections. Addis was tied for second, among all submitted players, in charges, tied for eighth in defensive rebounds, eighth in steals, fifth in blocks and ninth in deflections.
Kody Bergbower
Newton, 5-11, Sr., G
Recorded 107 defensive rebounds, 47 steals, 8 blocks and 62 deflections. Bergbower was fourth in steals, fifth in defensive rebounds and deflections and sixth in blocks.
Bryce Bohnhoff
Dieterich, 6-4, Soph., F
Recorded 108 defensive rebounds, 42 steals, 33 blocks, 3 charges and 57 deflections. Bohnhoff was second in blocks, fourth in defensive rebounds, tied for fifth in steals and sixth in charges and deflections.
Gavin Buening
Teutopolis, 6-2, Sr., G
Recorded 48 defensive rebounds, 26 steals, 4 blocks and 21 deflections. Buening was tied for eighth in blocks, tied for ninth in steals and 10th in defensive rebounds.
Ezra Cook
Dieterich, 6-2, Jr., G
Recorded 111 defensive rebounds, 33 steals, 15 blocks and 45 deflections. Cook was third in defensive rebounds, seventh in steals, fourth in blocks and 10th in deflections.
Keenan Griffith
Effingham (St. Anthony), 6-0, Sr., G
Recorded 72 defensive rebounds, 50 steals, 2 charges and 78 deflections. Griffith was second in deflections, sixth in defensive rebounds, third in steals and seventh in charges.
Aiden Lauritzen
Effingham (St. Anthony), 6-0, Sr., F
Illinois Wesleyan baseball recruit. Recorded 69 defensive rebounds, 25 steals, 6 blocks, 18 charges and 52 deflections. Lauritzen was first in charges, seventh in defensive rebounds and blocks and tied for seventh in deflections.
Reed Miller
Toledo (Cumberland), Sr., G
Recorded 63 defensive rebounds, 57 steals, 3 blocks, 6 charges and 79 deflections. Miller was first in deflections, tied for eighth in defensive rebounds, second in steals, 10th in blocks and tied for second in charges.
Kade Milleville
Altamont, 6-4, Sr., G
Lake Land College baseball recruit. Recorded 155 defensive rebounds, 60 steals, 36 blocks, 4 charges and 76 deflections. Milleville was first in defensive rebounds, steals and blocks, fifth in charges and third in deflections.
Landyn Thoele
Teutopolis, 6-5, Sr., F
Recorded 119 defensive rebounds, 26 steals, 17 blocks, 5 charges and 52 deflections. Thoele was second in defensive rebounds, tied for ninth in steals, third in blocks, fourth in charges and tied for seventh in deflections.