|
While
they were the tam in the middle of a
spectacular three-year run in CHS girls
basketball, there's no doubt the 1992-93
Centralia Orphan Annies were at the top of
their game. In
finishing with a 29-2 record, an undefeated
(14-0) South 7 Conference mark in addition
to the Mascoutah Holiday, Class AA Regional,
Sectional and Super-Sectional title, the '93
Annies left their mark in a big way. Going
into the season Centralia was coming off a
super-sectional appearance and 27-3 mark the
year before with just one starter - Michele
Reed - back from the club. But
the Annies had several other players who had
seen varsity action the previous year in
addition to those coming up from an 18-0
jayvee squad. "We
feel we're eight deep right now and could be
nine or ten as soon as some of the jayvee
and freshmen players learn the
program," said coach Ann Murray. Centralia
was the pre-season choice to win the South 7
Conference in claiming six of the seven
votes, but before beginning league play had
a trio of non conference games to begin the
season, all of which the Annies won in
convincing fashion - 68-38 Mascoutah, 76-42
Belleville East and 82-36 against Olney. The
South 7 opener was a memorable and
record-breaking event in a 112089 victory at
Mt. Vernon that established an Illinois High
School Association record for most points
scored in a girls' game. Reed had 34
points, Summar Maines 18, Corinna Maines 15,
Lucretia Maines 14 and 10 each by Angie
Kelly and Jodi Murray. From
their it wa a 67-38 win at Marion and
respective 73-29 and 58-33 verdicts over
Carbondale that gained a grip on the league
lead. The Annies followed with a 99-56
win over Salem to move into the Mascoutah
Holiday Tournament at full speed ahead. Once
there Centralia bashed Cahokia 71-34 and
granite City 63-38. In the semifinals
Centralia won out 59-53 over Wesclin in a
battle of unbeaten before engaging Okawville
in a free-scoring championship game played
before a standing-room only crowd. Summar
Maines scored 33 points as the Annies
equaled the program's best-ever start at
12-0 with a 92-83 win over Okawville, which
was also undefeated entering the game. Resuming
South 7 action, the Annies cruised past West
Frankfort 49-17, Harrisburg 59-32 and Herrin
65-34 to complete their first swing through
the league before routing Marion 66-34 while
also finally getting some mention in the
Associated Press Class AA poll. Centralia
advanced another three slots in the rankings
in sliding up to 12th as they entered the
mid-winter tourney at Carbondale and once
there rolled over Murphysboro 82-33 and
Harrisburg 76-47 before suffering their
first loss after 18 wins in an 80-73 setback
to large school Kentucky power Marshall
County. Rebounding
from that loss, the Annies went on to handle
Mt. Vernon 79-51 and Benton 78-54 before
having their closest encounter in conference
- a 47-38 victory over Carbondale that
clinched a share of the title. Centralia
followed that with a 63-37 victory at West
Frankfort that wrapped up the South Seven
and was the program's 27th consecutive win
in league play. Two
more victories by respective 56-35 and 61-34
counts over Harrisburg and Herrin ended a
24-1 regular season and a No. 7 ranking in
the state. As
the top seed in the sectional complex, the
Annies clammed Carbondale 46-25 in the
opening round and in the regional
championship coach Murray earned her 300th
career victory as the Annies dismantled
highland 71-47. Back
home in Trout Gym for the sectional, the
Annies used a balanced attack to dispatch
Mt. Vernon 84-48 as Lucretia Maines had 16
points, Angie Kelly 15 and Jodi Murray,
Corrinna Maines and Summar Maines 13 apiece. While
weather delayed the sectional championship
by a day, it was well worth the wait as
Centralia stormed ahead 23-7 after one
quarter and was up by 19 points at the half
before settling for a 60-48 victory over
Mattoon. It
was then on to Belleville East and a match
up with once-beaten and No. 12 ranked
Jerseyville. The Annies jumped ahead
early by 10 points, led by two at the half,
and then went on an 8-0 run to begin the
third quarter and won 75-65 to achieve the
school's third trip to the Elite Eight. Boyed
by a flood of balloons released in a sendoff
from CHS, the Annies went to Redbird Arena
in Normal to face No. 2 Main West in the
Class AA quarter finals. While
maine West led by as many as 11 in the third
period, Centralia charged back and with a
minute to play Jodi Murray hit a 3-pointer
that pulled the Annies within two at 45-43. The
game finished in controversy as Centralia
had a shot attempt inside in the final
second with contact made by three maine West
defenders but there was no call as the
buzzer sounded and the officials left the
floor. The
tough-to-take ending couldn't diminish the
feats the team accomplished during the
season that included a fourth straight
conference championship, the program's 11th
regional title and a school record for
victories. In
addition to Ann Murray's 300th career
victory other milestones reached by the
Annies during the season included Michele
Reed breaking the record for most points
scored in a career; most assists in a season
by Jodi Murray, and Angie Kelly had the most
3-pointers in a game and for a season. Receiving
varsity letters were Sara Kingsley, Emily
Siegmund, Jodi Murray, Stephanie meadows,
Corrinna Maines, Angie Kelly, Jaimee Turner,
Krista Mueller, Summar Maines, Liea Toedte,
Tiffany Maines, statisticians Eve Stidham an
Tekoa Lee and scorekeeper Shelley Offutt. Assisting
head coach Ann Murray were Mike Maines and
Gary Wurm. list@morningsentinel.com
COACH:
Ann Murray
ASSISTANT
COACHES: Michael Maines, Gary Wurm
|
