State Tournament -- 1999-00 Newton Girls

But, when it came down to the post-season, the Eagles turned a corner and ended up as a member of the Class A Elite Eight.

"In the regular season we'd win three in a row, then lose three in a row, then win three in a row, then lose three in a row," said Hartrich. "It was a really frustrating season.

"At the beginning of the season, we thought we could be pretty good. As the season progressed, we lost several close games and lost some games we shouldn't have. Sickness hit us during the season and Katie (Hartrich) Lurkins went down with a strained knee ligament for five games. We went into the regional with an 11-12 record and dead last in the Apollo Conference."

"We had success in the previous season, so we understood we had potential," said Lurkins, now the head basketball coach of the Altamont High School girls team. "However, for me, it was never a realization that we had state potential. The goal was to just win as many games as possible and do our best."

Coach Hartrich talked about his starters that year.

"We had what I liked to call our starting six. Lindsay Koebele, a 5-foot-10 forward, averaged around three points and four rebounds a game. She was a hard-nosed player who always gave everything every game.

"Lindsey Ochs, a 6-foot forward, got better throughout the year. She had a career game in the regional final. She hit all six shots from the floor, two for two from the line and had nine rebounds.

"Coryn Reich, a 5-foot-7 guard, scored 13 points a game, had a total of 91 assists, 107 steals, 35 three-pointers and was our point guard. She always got to defend the opponent's best guard.

"Emily Probst, a 6-foot-2 center, scored nine points and had eight rebounds per game. She took care of the interior defense.

"Katie Kocher, a 5-foot-5 guard, scored 12 points per game, had 100 assists, 143 rebounds and 44 three-pointers. She hit several clutch threes in the state series.

"Katie Hartrich, a 5-foot-11 forward, averaged 13 points per game, had 192 rebounds and 66 assists. She was the team leader on the floor.

"All year I kept telling people that this is an intelligent group of girls. When they "grew up", from these six girls we have two nurses, a pharmacist, prostetic designer-fitter, an accountant and a teacher/basketball coach."

"We had an amazing group of young women who loved to play," said Lurkins. "Coryn Reich was fast, strong and enthusiastic. She was quick and could hit a mid-range jumper and was also a great leader.

"Katie Kocher Farley was a lights-out three-point shooter.

"Emily Probst Brummer was 6-foot with long arms. She could grab rebounds on both ends.

"Lindsay Ochs Herman had a soft touch on the ball and seemed to always find herself in the right place.

"Lindsey Koebele Goebel loved to be physical inside.

"Andrea Volk Wendlng was a great leader and inspiration.

"We had several younger kids who helped in practice and provided important sub-minutes and were ecstatic on the bench. Leah Semple Finley, Emily Jansen Lee, Torey Calvert and more.

"Actually there's nothing during the regular season that stands out, if I remember correctly we were under .500 when post-season started. We didn't really achieve what we had hoped during the regular season; this made our postseason run so much more valuable."

'The Apollo Conference teams, Paris, Mount Zion, Effingham and Robinson were some of the tougher teams we faced," said Hartrich. "In the state series, Teutopolis and Warrensburg-Latham, Elmhurst Timothy Christian as well as Robinson and Paris."

"At the time we played in what I call the "old Apollo" in the two class system," said Lurkins. "Effingham, Charleston, Paris were always tough games as well as Altamont in the Bob Kerans Tournament."

Coach Hartrich talked about a superstition the team had.

"The girls always sat in the same seats on the bus," smiled Hartrich. "It always had to be that way."

"Dixie Chicks' 'Earl Had to Die' was our motivation in the locker room before games," said Lurkins. "Not many of us could sing but we all acted like we did!

"Coach Hartrich was calm and steady throughout the season, which was important when you had all the personalities we did. Coach Hartrich also made it a family atmosphere, something I didn't realize until I became a coach. Teresa, his wife, was always providing snacks and love for us. Jill Bierman was the assistant coach and she helped bridge the gap between teenage girls and a coach.

"As my uncle, I grew up with Coach Hartrich's stories and knowing about previous teams. In all those experiences he put the athletes best interests first and allowed teams to have their own identity.

"Now as a coach myself, Coach Hartrich is still coaching me. He sends me motivational quotes, gave an inspirational locker room speech to one of my teams and is always open to having "coaching" conversations."

The year before the 1999-2000 squad, the girls team finished with a 22-5 record and won a regional but went no farther. The 1999-2000 squad was only the fourth team in 23 years that had won a regional and was the first team to claim a sectional, a super-sectional and go to State. They are still the only Newton girls basketball team to make it to State.

"The community really backed us," said Hartrich. "We had loud crowds at the sectional games at Robinson and a huge crowd at the super-sectional at Mililkin University and at the Elite Eight game at Illinois State University."

"Extracurrculars are what drives small town communities," said Lurkins. "It was not just our team going to State. All of Jasper County was going to State. Banners on the drive to State posted along the highway, a celebration send-off/welcoming home event and lots of high fives.

"To this day, the community members still reference that season and talk about it with pride."

Newton edged Warrensburg-Latham in the super-sectional, 53-50. The Eagles then ran into a buzz-saw in their first game at State, falling to Elmhurst Timothy Christian, 44-19.

Hartrich has since retired from teaching in 2007. He continued coaching cross country for seven or eight years and still helps out with the girls track team.

"I work part time with my brothers at Hartrich Meats," said Hartrich. "Teresa and I have five grand-kids, ranging from a third-grader, a freshman in high school, a junior in high school, a freshman in college and a 23-year-old in the working world. We keep busy attending their activities and, hopefully," being able to travel again."

Lurkins now lives in Altamont with husband James and has three children, Kaylee (13), Nathaniel (11) and Spencer (7).

"I didn't realize how much coaches and being an athlete  influenced me in high school," said Lurkins. "As I began focusing on my career, I found I wanted to teach and coach myself. I was fortunate to start my varsity coaching career in Newton then took a position in Altamont, where my family lived.

"Altamont has become our home. Just like Jasper County, the Altamont Indian community embraces extracurriculars as a mainstay. I have now been the head coach in Altamont for nine years. The Lady Indians basketball team has achieved much success. I am also a Social Science teacher (economics, civics, psychology, self-management) at ACHS.

"My husband, James is a crop specialist for South Central FS in Vandalia. Our kids are very active in athletics, 4-H and St. Clare Church as well as being big Altamont Indian fans.

"All of my teammates from that season have become successful women who are hard-working, caring and friendly. I believe that the hard work we put in on the court and the fun we had while doing it helped shape who we have become today. This stage in our life, many of the teammates have daughters that are now competing against and with each other. It gives a sense of nostalgia and excitement to be able to witness our daughters enjoying the same sport that influenced our lives.

"I truly hope this next generation of female athletes have inspiring stories to tell."