College Basketball Season Underway for Local Players

Though high school gyms across Illinois are quiet so far this winter, several former Okawville basketball players have hit the hardwood in college.

Five former Okawville roundballers are playing at the next level, including NCAA Division 1 players Noah Frederking and Madison Hackstadt.

Noah Frederking has had the biggest role so far this winter, starting all five of the University of Evansville’s games in the young season.

The senior for the Purple Aces has averaged over 35 minutes per game this year. He is scoring 14.2 points per game, as well as grabbing 2.6 rebounds per game.

Noah’s biggest game was against University of Tennessee Martin, when he poured in 22 points and grabbed five rebounds in a loss. Evansville is 1-3 on the season.

Noah is the son of Brian and Debbie Frederking of rural Okawville.

Hackstadt, Okawville’s other Division 1 player, has seen limited playing time for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars.

She is the daughter of Neal and Angie Hackstadt of rural Nashville.

A redshirt sophomore, Hackstadt logged four minutes in one game this year, and she finished with three points and one rebound in a game against University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (formerly St. Louis College of Pharmacy).

Hackstadt was not the only local player so see action in that game. Delaney Toensing, a freshman at UHSP, played in the SIUE game, grabbing two rebounds in two minutes of play. SIUE won the game 66-43.

Read the full article in this week’s issue.