Hefele's number retired at East Rockaway HS

The following is the speech that was presented by Coach Joe Lores during the East Rockaway High School Pep Rally and award presentation ceremony.

When the concept of a retired Hall of Athletic Numbers at East Rockaway was discussed, the next question was, “Whose number should be retired?” The Hall presently houses Cindy Walukuwitz No. 27 in softball; Tommy Barone’s No. 78 and Andrew Stern’s No. 13 in football.
When contemplating the Halls next enshrinement names from 1936 to the present time, and, after much bantering and debate, it seemed only right that the next number to be enshrined should be that of Stephen Hefele, a 1974 graduate of East Rockaway High School.
Steve is the measuring stick by which all East Rockaway basketball players are measured. He owns the single season scoring record of 430 points. He averaged 12.8 rebounds a game that year — another school record. He scored 35 or more points in a single game three times in his senior year, the only player in school history to do so.

I had the privilege of watching Steve when I was a freshman at Lynbrook High School as he singlehandedly lit up the Lynbrook gymnasium scoreboard back in January of 1974. The Owls were letting the Rocks have it on this evening, and the Rocks found themselves down 20 at the half. Steve being double teamed most of the evening, had only managed two points at the break. The second half proved to me (a 14-year-old aficionado of the game) that I was watching something — or someone — special. Steve was draining shots from every crevice of Lynbrook’s small gymnasium, and before a capacity crowd he scored 30 second-half points and brought the Rocks back from beyond the grave to have a chance to win. The Rocks came up short on that night, but the bar had been set and Steve distinguished himself as the finest prep player to don the black and orange.
When Steve left the Rock Palace he had earned a Division 1 scholarship to Rutgers University. A short ride to his New Jersey campus earned his Rutgers teammates and him a journey to the 1975 Final Four played, at the Philadelphia Spectrum. To this day Steve is the only East Rockaway graduate to play in an NCAA Division 1 Final Four. He went on to play professional basketball in Europe before his retirement from the game as a player.
No discussion about East Rockaway basketball can be complete without mentioning Mike West, Harry Friesleben, Art Doherty or more recently Joe Todero, James Murphy or Frank Kelly. But no discussion about East Rockaway Basketball can even begin unless you begin with the name Steve Hefele.
Steve, tonight we welcome you home and share in your pride as your No. 32 now hangs as a part our Hall of Retired Numbers.