They were back to back state champions in basketball in 1998 and 1999 and now they are members of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Saturday, April 28th, the Nokomis Girls High School Basketball Teams were officially welcomed at ceremonies at Illinois State University. Currrent Nokomis Girls High School Basketball Head Coach Rachelle McDowell introduced the ten former players who were able to attend the event with family and friends. Before introducing the former players, Coach McDowell spoke of the admiration and love her and the players had for Coach Maury Hough who passed away in 2004. McDowell was Hough's assistant coach for several years including 1998 and 1999. Former players who attended the Hall of Fame banquet included Ashlee Keller-Peno, Jana Spears-Fesser, Carrie Eisenbarth-Matthews, Rachelle Detmers-Reincke, Jessica Hough-Jahn, Crystal Hayes, Va'Nicia Waterman, Amy Prater-Stolte, Amy Braye-Hough, and Bonnie Meiners-Brownback who is the current Assistant Coach for the Nokomis Girls High School basketball team. Both the 1998 and 1999 teams finished with 33-2 records. Nokomis defeated Carthage in the title game in 1998 and Carrollton in overtime in 1999. Molly McDowell set a State Tournament scoring record in 1998 with 87 total points and a record 35 points in the title game. McDowell was named Ms. Basketball in 1999. Coach Maury Hough was inducted in the IBCA Coaches Hall of Fame in 2000. Congratulations to the State Champs and the newest members of the IBCA Hall of Fame. You wear it well!
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