Sometimes it isn`t easy to remember who is going where, when.
Take, for example, Peoria Manual, where the boys` and girls` basketball teams have been spending March weaving their respective ways to Champaign for the Class AA state tournament.
The boys completed their trip last weekend by bringing home the third-place trophy. The girls will try to meet or beat that performance Friday and Saturday when they`ll join three other first-time qualifiers and four schools that have been through it all before at the 10th girls` state finals.
”It has been a little hectic trying to make sure which team has been going where on what night,” said girls` coach Dennis Brown. ”But it has been fun.”
Manual (24-3) will meet Wheaton North (26-1), another first-time qualifier, at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Richards (24-5), making its second straight Elite Eight appearance, will open the tournament against first-time qualifier Lockport (28-2) at 9 a.m. Defending Class AA champion Marshall (26-3), in its ninth state tournament appearance, will play tourney rookie Lake Zurich (27-2) at 10:30 a.m., and tournament veterans Maine West (28-2) and East St. Louis Lincoln (27-1) will conclude quarterfinal play at 3 p.m.
For seven years, Manual played in the long shadow of Peoria Richwoods. Richwoods` string of state tournament trips was finally broken in 1986. This season, the Rams played in the shadow of another cross-town rival, Peoria Central. Three times during the regular season, Central defeated Manual. But Manual won the sectional title game 54-52 on its way Downstate.
”It was kind of nice to be able to finally get out from under that rock
(Richwoods) ourselves,” said Brown. ”But it was a tough trip to get to state. We had to overcome a few obstacles, such as Central.”
The Rams have one of the tallest teams in state tournament history. Their four starters stand at least 5 feet 11 inches tall. Manual is led by 6-3 senior center Carla McGee. McGee, an All-Stater, averages 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. She`s flanked on the front line by 6-1 sophomore Rissa Taylor and 6-0 senior Holly Baker. Juniors Micah Bingeman and Monica King round out the starting lineup.
Wheaton North, however, can almost look the Rams in the eye. The Falcons` big gun is 6-4 senior Denise Lawrence. She`s flanked by 5-11 senior Kris Knutsen and 5-10 junior Sandy Eberhardt.
Wheaton North coach Jim Rexilius Jr., who in two seasons has moved the Falcons from the second division of the Du Page Valley Conference to the final eight teams in the state, has been seeking advice from Wheaton Central coach Rich Jarom, who coached the Tigers to a runner-up finish last year.
”They`ve been a big help,” said Rexilius. ”He knows what you have to go through.”
Marshall isn`t as strong as it has been in recent years, but any time the Commandos step on the floor, they are a threat. Coach Dorothy Gaters says her team will be ready after its emotional 60-59 overtime victory over Young Monday in the Public League final.
”That game is over, I don`t think it will affect us now,” Gaters said.
”We`re looking forward to participating in the state tournament.”
The Commandos will have to find a way to slow down Lake Zurich senior Lisa Foss. Foss averages 35 points a game, and many of those points come from long range.
Gaters believes if there is a tournament favorite, it is East St. Louis Lincoln, which beat her team 47-37 in February.
”Everything worked for them when they played us,” said Gaters. ”They handled our press, they shot well, they scored well inside. They played extremely well, at least that night.”
The Tigerettes, who last appeared at state in 1984, go inside to 6-0 center Julia Cole and 5-8 forward Aremelder Johnson.
Maine West, East St. Louis Lincoln`s opening-round opponent, is neither tall nor fast. Sophomore point guard Nancy Kennelly directs the offense. Seniors Suzanne O`Keefe (5-11), Amy Omland, Gay Crain and Cherie Carlson complete a balanced offense. No player averages more than 10 shots per game.
Richards is making its second straight state tournament appearance, but the Bulldogs may be making it without head coach Tim Quinn. Quinn, who missed Richards` 53-52 supersectional victory over Thornwood Monday, was hospitalized for a stomach disorder.
The Bulldogs will count heavily on 5-11 sophomore Charmaine Kenebrew, who had 13 points and 11 rebounds in Richards` 47-41 victory at Lockport in December. Kenebrew and sophomore guard Angela Boyle have emerged to complement senior returnees Kate Webber, Chrissy Pipikios and Mechell Reid.
Lockport is making its first Downstate appearance. The five senior starters form the nucleus of a group that has won 52 of 57 games over the last two seasons.
