NeveHarms "Dawdy" Hawkins, one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in the nation, directed his teams to state titles in two different states. His Lincoln Northeast High School team won a Nebraska state prep crown in 1948, just before he left to take over at Peoria Central. He quickly forged a powerhouse at Central, his 1952-53 team, led by brilliant center Hiles Stout, making it to the championship game of the Illinois state finals at the University of Illinois' old Huff Gym before bowing to LaGrange, 71-60. Hawkins took three other Peoria Central teams to the state tournament (1954, 56, 59) and then, switching to Pekin, had five other state appearances (1964, 65, 66, 67, 73), including state championship teams in 1964 and 1967.
| 2006 Tri-County Male Co-Athlete of the Year ZACH MCALLISTER Zach led Illinois Valley Central to the Class A state baseball championship in June. He finished with a 12-1 record and a 1.04 ERA, striking out 116 batters while walking only 13. Drafted in the third round by the New York Yankees, he signed immediately and went 5-2, with a 3.09 ERA and was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect in the Gulf Coast League last summer. |  |