EFFINGHAM — The 2026 Effingham Daily News All-Area Girls’ 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.
Altogether, there is one team, featuring 10 players.
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Jersey Gaddis
Teutopolis, 5-5, Jr., G
Recorded 24 defensive rebounds, 47 steals, 3 blocks and 2 charges. Gaddis was 10th in the area, among all submitted players, in blocks and tied for fourth in charges drawn.
Maci Hayes
Effingham (H.S.), 5-10, Jr., F
Recorded 59 defensive rebounds, 52 steals and 7 blocks. Hayes was tied for sixth in the area in blocks.
Addie Lauritzen
Effingham (St. Anthony), 5-10, Jr., F
Recorded 127 defensive rebounds, 55 steals, 8 blocks and 3 charges. Lauritzen was tied for first in the area in charges, was fourth in defensive rebounds, fifth in blocks and 10th in steals.
Sophia Martin
Teutopolis, 5-6, Sr., G
Recorded 38 defensive rebounds, 35 steals and 7 blocks. Martin was tied for sixth in the area in blocked shots.
Jude Miller
Toledo (Cumberland), 5-6, Soph., G
Recorded 147 defensive rebounds, 94 steals, 13 blocks and 1 charge. Miller was first in the area in defensive rebounds, second in blocks, third in steals and seventh in charges.
Kelsey Niemerg
Teutopolis, 5-8, Sr., G
Lake Land recruit. Recorded 69 defensive rebounds, 54 steals, 14 blocks and 2 charges. Niemerg was first in the area in blocks, tied for fourth in charges and seventh in defensive rebounds.
Claire Probst
Newton, 6-0, Jr., F
Recorded 145 defensive rebounds, 70 steals, 12 blocks and 2 charges. Probst was tied for second in the area in defensive rebounds, third in blocks, tied for fourth in charges and seventh in steals.
Addie Sasse
Brownstown-St. Elmo, 5-10, Sr., F
Recorded 145 defensive rebounds, 60 steals, 10 blocks and 3 charges. Sasse was tied for first in the area in charges, tied for second in defensive rebounds, fourth in blocks and ninth in steals.
Presley Williams
Brownstown-St. Elmo, 5-8, Sr., G
Recorded 60 defensive rebounds and 167 steals. Williams was first in the area in steals.
Averie Wolfe
Effingham (H.S.), 5-2, Sr., G
Illinois Wesleyan recruit. Recorded 66 defensive rebounds, 143 steals, 2 blocks and 1 charge. Wolfe was second in the area in steals, tied for seventh in charges and ninth in defensive rebounds.