TEUTOPOLIS — With success comes accolades.
The Teutopolis boys basketball team knows all about both and this past season was no different, as the Wooden Shoes earned its fourth-straight Effingham Daily News Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, with senior Drew Hoene winning the award following a stellar season on that end of the floor.
Hoene joins past winners Joey Niebrugge, James Niebrugge, Max Niebrugge and Mitch Althoff to garner the end-of-season superlative.
Hoene lived up to more than what he was expected of as a senior.
“I’m really honest with our guys,” head coach Chet Reeder said. “Hopefully, they appreciate that and sometimes, I’m honest to a fault. I never would have imagined that Drew would be our best defender. We’re telling Drew, ‘You ‘gotta guard the other team’s best player.’ We didn’t do that at the beginning of the year, but when we finally started doing that, it changed our defense for us.
“He’s not the quickest, doesn’t jump the highest, not the strongest, but he uses his brain and is locked into our scouting report.”
The strategy to have Hoene guard the opposition’s best player was made near Christmas.
It was an early gift for T-Town and Reeder, as Hoene thrived in his role.
“It was right before Christmas when we started doing it. Our thought process was, ‘He’s so long and if he can out-smart people and think angles instead of quickness, he really could cause a problem for people,’ and that’s what he did,” Reeder said.
Hoene finished the year averaging 1.8 deflections and 1.3 steals per game.
Reeder said that Hoene was the leader on the defensive end of the court.
“Drew led the charge,” Reeder said. “He didn’t take things personally. He understood what we were telling him and that we were trying to help him and he shined.”
As a senior, Hoene knew he had to make a lasting impact.
He did just that and did it with minimal varsity experience, though Reeder said he was ready once the year rolled around.
“Drew, as a sophomore and a junior, had to guard really good players in practice,” Reeder said. “I stress to them, ‘The hardest part of your week needs to be practice,’ and I stress to our scout team guys, ‘That’s on you.’ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re talking about Drew because when Drew became a senior, he was ready.”
Hoene answered a series of questions. Below is how he responded.
Q: What do you love the most about playing basketball and why?
A: “My favorite part of the game is winning, but also the challenges I get to face with the team. I don’t like losing and I know that every game, I need to do my part so we can all succeed. Each challenge we faced this season was different and it pushed me to grow. But what I loved most was finding ways to help the team through those challenges.”
Q: How long have you been playing? What kept you motivated as a basketball player?
A: “I’ve been playing basketball for as long as I can remember whether it was with my family or practicing on my own. That drive to get better kept me going and I always thought about how I couldn’t let down ‘Little Drew.’ Another big motivator was proving to myself and others that I could overcome obstacles. Early in my career, I wasn’t always getting the minutes or starting, so that pushed me to work even harder to be ready when the team needed me.”
Q: What made you such a great defender?
A: “A lot of people think it’s just about speed, but I’ve learned it’s more about mentality. Sure, being fast helps, but it’s the mindset that sets you apart. When I’m defending, I tell myself, ‘This guy isn’t scoring on me.’ That mentality not only pushes me but also helps protect the team. Growing up watching basketball, I picked up different tactics for defending all types of players and I used that knowledge to help my teammates as much as myself.”
Q: Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself? If so, how do you manage that?
A: “I love the pressure. I think it brings out the best in me and pushes me to rise to the occasion. I put pressure on myself because I want to be there for the team in big moments. Even if I fail, I know it’s part of the process that helps me get better for the next time.”
Q: What did you love the most about playing on this past season’s basketball team?
A: “The best part of the season was the team and the coaching staff. They pushed me to be my best every day and they always brought energy and positivity. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about the memories we created and the joy we shared as a group. I’m grateful to my teammates and coaches for making this season so memorable.”