CENTRAL

u High point: About 10

p.m. March 22, 2003.
Tied with South
Holland Thornwood, YEAR-BY-YEAR
Central junior Shaun 1999-00: 23-5
Livingston drove
the left baseline
2000-01: 18-10
2001-02: 19-9 MANUAL
at Carver Arena 2002-03: 31-1 u High point: Return-
and rose for a two- 2003-04: 31-2 ing to Carver Arena for
handed kiss off the 2004-05: 22-6 the 2008 state
glass with 3.2 sec- 2005-06: 10-15
2006-07: 8-16
finals, Manual’s
first year as a Class
YEAR-BY-YEAR
onds left that gave 1999-00: 14-13
Central a 45-43 win 2007-08: 18-10 2A school, was a
2000-01: 16-9
and the Class AA 2008-09: 12-13 bright spot for the
2001-02: 17-11
state title. The Lions Overall: 192-87 traditionally strong
2002-03: 11-17
got more attention program that
2003-04: 6-20
for repeating in 2004, but that moment endured a down
2004-05: 14-15
put Peoria basketball back on top. decade beacuse
2005-06: 20-9
u Low point: A loss to Notre Dame in of instability in
2006-07: 11-15
the ‘07 regionals capped an 8-16 sea- coaching.
2007-08: 25-8
son and was accompanied by a number u Low point: An
2008-09: 23-8
of players transfering to other schools. 87-47 loss to
Overall: 157-125
u Top players: Ahmid Palmer, Marcellus Central in the ‘03
Sommerville, Quentin Edwards, Daniel regional final was
Ruffin, Shaun Livingston, Brandon Lee the most lopsided defeat in the history
(below), D.J. Richardson, D. Tony Banks of that storied rivalry and the last game
u Coaches: Chuck Buescher (1979- coached by Manual’s Andrew Johnson.
2004); Danny Ruffin (‘04-present) u Top players: Jerron Hobson, O’Bryan
u Titles: Conference: ’05, ’04, ’00; Wallace, Rodney Williams, Breland
Regional: ’08, ’05, ’04, ’03, ’02, ’01; McKnight (above), Paris Gulley
Sectional: ’04, ’03; Supersectionals: u Coaches: Wayne McClain (‘94-01);
’04, ’03; State trophies: 1st place in Andrew Johnson (‘01-03); Tim Kenny
’04; 1st place in ’03 (‘03-06); Derrick Booth (‘06-present)
u Quote: “What this team accom- u Titles: Conference: ’09; Regional:
plished was outstanding,” Central coach ’09, ’08 ; Sectional: ’08; Supersection-
Buescher said following the 2003 title. al: ’08; State trophies: 2nd place in ’08
“I knew we would be good, but I wasn’t u Quote: “He came from that mold
sure if we could be great. Tonight, we where it’s just no nonsense,” veteran
were great.” Manual scorekeeper Sir James Watson
said of Booth. “Manual basketball got
to the point where it was pretty lax, kids
coming and going as they pleased, but
these kind of kids need straight-up
discipline. He has the same presence
in the building (that McClain and Van
Scyoc had).”

RICHWOODS
u High point: Taking
a Derrick Rose-led
Chicago Simeon
team to overtime in YEAR-BY-YEAR
the 2006 Class AA 1999-00: 26-7
title game. Only a 2000-01: 28-4
last-second basket 2001-02: 24-5
by the future NBA
No. 1 draft pick
2002-03: 19-10
2003-04: 15-14
WASHINGTON
uHigh point: June
denied Richwoods 2004-05: 21-8
14, 2004. That’s
a chance at its first 2005-06: 26-7
the day Washington YEAR-BY-YEAR
state title. 2006-07: 25-5 1999-00: 22-6
hired coach Kevin
u Low point: 2007-08: 17-10 2000-01: 3-23
Brown, who won
None, really. 2008-09: 21-8 2001-02: 8-18
21 games and a
Richwoods won Overall: 222-78 conference title in 2002-03: 13-13
an average of 22
his first season and 2003-04: 17-10
games a year, nine regional titles and
hasn’t let up since. 2004-05: 21-9
posted a winning percentage of .740, 2005-06: 24-5
uLow point: Jeff
numbers that made the Knights the 2006-07: 27-2
Little’s first team
Peoria area’s most consistent program 2007-08: 26-5
lost its last 13
of the last decade. 2008-09: 22-4
games to finish
u Top players: Marcus Jackson, Robert
3-23, the school’s Overall: 183-95
Faulkner, Steve Turner, John Little, Jamar
worst season in
Smith (below), Bill Cole
almost 70 years.
u Coaches: Bob Darling (‘96-‘03);
uTop players: Dane Ainsworth, Matt
Mike Ellis (‘03-present)
Nicholson, Sean Johnson, Matt Roth
Titles: Conference: ‘07, ‘06, ‘01, ‘00;
(above), Dyricus Simms-Edwards
Regional: ‘09, ‘07, ‘06, ‘05, ‘04, ‘03,
uCoaches: Steve Doty (1977-2000);
‘02, ‘01, ‘00; Sectional: ‘07, ‘06, ‘01,
Jeff Little (2000-’04); Kevin Brown
‘00; Supersectional: ‘06, ‘01, ‘00;
(2004-present)
State trophies: 2nd place in ‘06; 4th
uTitles: Conference: ’09, ’08, ’07,
place in ‘00
’06, ’05; Regional: ’00, ’05, ’06, ’07,
uQuote: “It was a dream coaching
’08; Sectional: ’05, ’08; Supersec-
these guys, and I could not be more
tional: ’08; State trophies: 4th place
proud,” Ellis said in ‘06. “I’m fortunate.
in ’08
It takes good kids to win, and at Rich-
uQuote: “It’s tough leaving,” said Roth,
woods, you don’t have to motivate them
the state’s all-time leader in 3-pointers
to win. They’re already winners.”
made (464). “But at the same time,
I know this program is in good hands
and will keep going up. “Beside all the
memories I’ve made and shared, I look
forward to coming back to Washington
and being able to walk into that gym,
point at the banners and tell people I
helped put those up there.”