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It was a team that had plenty of class — from seniors to a freshman contributing.
Juniors and sophomores did their part, too, as the 1991-92 Centralia Orphan Annies basketball team carved out a 27-3 record and a Class AA Sweet 16 appearance in addition to South 7 Conference, Carbondale Tourney, and regional and sectional championships.
Seniors Stacy Bogle, Jackie McPhail, Melissa Malone, Junnell Burris and Cariene Jones were joined by juniors Michele Reed, Laurie Hart, Sara Kingsley, and Lucretia Maines, sophomores Jodi Murray, Corrinna Maines, Stephanie Meadows and Angie Kelly and freshman Summar Maines all played parts in a season that saw the team set a school record of 23 regular season wins. In addition, the younger players were part of an undefeated jayvee season.
Ann Murray was the head coach, assisted by Mike Maines and Gary Wurm.
With athletes who were also members of regional championship volleyball and softball teams, and with four full-time starters returning from a 21-win team the year before, the Annies had not only skill but experience along with depth and quickness.
“Those are our main assets,” coach Ann Murray said going into the season.
Centralia featured an up-tempo style that would force opponents into an average of 21 turnovers per game while outscoring them an average of 64-40.
While the season got off to a bumpy start with a 44-43 road loss to Mascoutah, the Annies rebounded by routing Belleville East (66-22) and Salem (89-34). Four straight wins in conference play over Herrin, Benton, Marion and Carbondale threw Centralia into the league lead with West Frankfort and gave the Annies a 6-1 record heading into the Mascoutah Holiday Tournament.
Once there, Centralia cruised past Belleville Althoff 65-42 and Wesclin 67-41 and bounced Collinsville 59-52 in the semifinals before a 77-66 loss to Class A power Okawville in the title game.
However, the Annies would not lose another game for two months as a 59-43 win over Mount Vernon began an 18-game winning streak.
Up next was a showdown with West Frankfort, a team that had nudged out the Annies for first in a conference preseason poll.
With Bogle scoring 17 points, Reed 16 and McPhail 12, Centralia won the road contest 57-36 as the team continued a successful switch from zone to man-to-man defense.
Centralia padded its league with successive wins over Herrin, Marion, Mount Vernon and Harrisburg — by an average margin of 23 points — and rode that momentum into the Carbondale Tournament where they mauled Murphysboro 69-19, held off Harrisburg 42-35 in the semifinals as McPhail scored her 1,000th career point and then capped a four games in five days swing with a 52-40 win over Herrin for the title. McPhail, Reed and Bogle were named All-Tournament.
Following two more wins in S-7 play, the Annies hosted West Frankfort with an opportunity to clinch the conference title which they did with a decisive 68-35 victory.
Depth played a key role as Centralia received 25 points and 14 rebounds from non-starters and two nights later, the Orphan Annies wrapped up a 14-0 run through the conference with a 54-41 decision over Harrisburg.
After an 85-32 win over Olney ended the regular season at 23-2, the Annies moved into the postseason as regional hosts and romped past Murphysboro 90-15 in the first round.
That led to a championship game with Marion and Centralia opened up a 20-point lead in the third quarter before finishing with a 61-49 victory.
A rematch with Mascoutah was next up in the sectional at Salem and the Annies exacted revenge for the season opener with a 61-41 victory behind a defense that forced 22 turnovers.
Next up in the sectional final was Mattoon (27-1) and No. 13th in the state while the Annies had been overlooked in the rankings. Not only was a sectional title at stake, but also an opportunity for Centralia to return home since the super-sectional was to be played in Trout Gym.
Trailing by eight points late in the first half, the Annies received a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Cariene Jones that brought them back within five at 33-28 at the half.
“Cariene’s 3-pointer really brought us back,” said Ann Murray. “I told them at halftime we can’t go back to Centralia and watch another team play.”
At the end of the third quarter — with Centralia down 48-46 — Bogle launched a shot from beyond the 3-point line as time ran out, was fouled on the play and made the free throw. That put the Annies on top and triggered a 10-0 run that kept them there.
Bogle had 19 points, Reed 15 and Jones 13 as the Annies also wound up going five deep on the bench in the first half due to foul trouble.
“We kept emphasizing you’ve got to have heart,” said Ann Murray. “Everyone listened and accepted the challenge.”
Centralia came back home for the super-sectional and despite a large, partisan crowd, couldn’t overcome foul trouble and East St. Lincoln’s quickness which saw the Tigerettes take a 64-46 victory that ended the season.
Reed led a balanced offense with a 14.3 points per game average, McPhail added 12 ppg and Bogle 10 ppg. All three, in addition to Jones, were named All-South by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association. list@morningsentinel.com
COACH:
Ann Murray
ASSISTANT
COACHES: Michael Maines, Gary Wurm
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