They had a parade and pep rally Wednesday to celebrate the last half-century of Marshall basketball, and a glorious 50 years it has been.
It began with the 1958 team, the first Chicago squad to win a state basketball championship. It continued with a 1960 state title and with several teams that captured third- or fourth-place trophies, including the 1991 third-place team that featured “Hoop Dreams” co-star Arthur Agee.
It also, of course, includes the record eight state titles Marshall’s girls program has produced under Dorothy Gaters, the last one coming just two weeks ago.
All that’s missing is a bookend, a boys state title 50 years after George Wilson, M.C. Thompson & Co. delivered that first one. Thanks to its 84-54 Class 3A supersectional romp over North Chicago on Tuesday at the Sears Centre, Marshall’s 2008 team is only two victories from providing it.
Marshall (30-4) meets Washington (26-3) in the semifinals Friday at the Peoria Civic Center.
The 1958 champion had much to overcome, including history and the widespread belief a Chicago team — not to mention an all-black team — couldn’t defeat the Downstate powers.
Marshall’s current team hasn’t faced those obstacles, but its journey has presented its own challenges, most notably the October firing of Lamont Bryant as coach.
Bryant had led the Commandos to third-place finishes the last two seasons in Class AA and forged a strong bond with his players. They appeared in support when he announced he had sued to get his coaching job back and they vowed to skip the season if Bryant were not reinstated.
This was a tough spot for a new coach, but Courtney Hargrays didn’t hesitate when principal Juan Gardner offered him the job. Hargrays had played in the early 1990s at Marshall for the late, great Luther Bedford and had returned to the school in 1998, first as an assistant under boys coach Al Williams and then for the last five seasons as an aide to Gaters.
“I had been sitting around 10 years waiting for this chance,” he said Tuesday. “It’s an honor to turn around and give back after everyone gave so much to me.”
Hargrays described his initial team meeting as “a little raggedy” but added, “It was never toward me. The kids were more angry at the administration because of the firing.”
Hargrays respected that loyalty but knew the players wouldn’t sit out the season.
“The bottom line is when the smoke cleared kids want to play basketball,” he said.
If they were going to play, though, they were going to do it his way. Hargrays retained Marshall’s up-tempo style but demanded more discipline, especially when it came to half-court offense.
“It was giving them offensive plays, getting them to make the extra pass,” he said.
“Basically, don’t be so selfish. It’s about the team, not about you.”
The Commandos adjusted as best they could, but slip-ups were inevitable and often won the guilty party a seat on the bench.
That culminated in what became the season’s turning point, a Jan. 4 game against Simeon, which will play Champaign Central in Friday’s other 3A semifinal. Hargrays became dissatisfied with the performance of his two best players, senior guard-forward Ryan Hare and junior guard Darius Smith, and benched them for the second half in the 64-45 defeat.
“They were playing for themselves instead of for the team,” Hargrays said. “That benching made them the leaders they are today, and it sent a message to everyone that I would only accept the best from them.
“The game was not that important. It was the respect and team unity we needed to gain. We didn’t have team unity then. Now we have six guys score in double figures.”
Hare acknowledged that the season has at times been as serene as a Bulls fan’s temper.
“It was tough in the beginning, but that’s why I’ve got a team,” he said Tuesday.
“We stuck together, and it’s why we made it this far.”
Along the way Hargrays appears to have made progress in winning over his players.
“Coach Hargrays and I have a great relationship,” senior guard Ardarius Simmons said Wednesday. “Everyone has come together a whole lot since the beginning of the season.
“We’re all family, all on the same page.”
Hargrays was wearing a brand new Marshall’s girls state title sweat shirt to the rally. He remained a member of Gaters’ staff this season and sat on the bench at the state finals, so he could wind up accepting two championship gold medals in one month.
It’s enough to make a guy a rock star, which is the phrase Gaters used to introduce him.
“I’m starting to believe it too,” Hargrays had said earlier with a laugh, knowing that at Marshall he would be only one star among so many.
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btemkin@tribune.com
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