Alex Wallner

Alex Wallner, Effingham Daily News, Ill. ALTAMONT — Not many players had the impact on their team quite like Kade Milleville had for Altamont this past season.

Teutopolis senior Landyn Thoele poses for a portrait at J.H. Griffin Gymnasium inside Teutopolis High School on April 12. Thoele is the Effingham Daily News Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Teutopolis senior Isaac McWhorter poses for a portrait at J.H. Griffin Gymnasium inside Teutopolis High School on Monday, April 27, 2026. McWhorter is the Effingham Daily News Boys Basketball co-Most Improved Player of the Year. (Alex Wallner, Daily News)

St. Anthony senior Keenan Griffith poses for a portrait at the Enlow Center inside St. Anthony High School on Monday, April 6, 2026. Griffith is the Effingham Daily News Boys Basketball co-Most Improved Player of the Year. (Alex Wallner, Daily News)

Members of the Effingham Daily News All-Area Boys Basketball First Team pose for a portrait at J.H. Griffin Gymnasium inside Teutopolis High School on April 12. Pictured (l-r) are: Gavin Addis and Jason Kreke, of Teutopolis, Cody Zimdars, of Louisville (North Clay), and Landyn Thoele, of Teutopolis.

Members of the Effingham Daily News All-Defense Boys Basketball Team pose for a portrait at J.H. Griffin Gymnasium inside Teutopolis High School on April 12. Pictured (l-r) are: Aiden Lauritzen, of Effingham (St. Anthony), Reed Miller, of Toledo (Cumberland), and Gavin Addis, Gavin Buening and Landyn Thoele, of Teutopolis.

Newton junior Haley Ochs tees off during the IHSA Class 1A Sandoval Regional girls' golf tournament at Colonial Golf Course on Sept. 30 in Sandoval, Ill.

One was a tremendous all-around player. The other was a school record-holder who had the same traits.

"Makenna brings the fun out of me and I am extremely thankful for that," Tuman said. "If I see her mid-round and I'm in my head, she always brings me

Alec Hakman, center, poses for a portrait with sisters Nina, left, and Cara, right, at Effingham Country Club on Sept. 17, 2025.