Basketball Hall of Fame

From 1973-76, Richwoods dominated boys basketball in the Peoria area to the extent that the three teams of those years were inducted as an Era of Excellence. Richwoods had an 83-6 overall record over three seasons and a 47-1 conference record; the best three-year record by any team in the state over this period. The 1974-75 Knights looked promising with four returning lettermen. They remained undefeated through every Mid-State 9 bout, including a sellout game with Peoria High, to win their second consecutive conference crown. It was only the second time in history a team had run the Mid-State league table. The Knights only fell once, to upstate Thornton, to take second in the Pekin Holiday Tournament. They were led by Chris Williams with 801 points that season, a school record at the time. Other players that performed outstanding that year were Kevin Westervelt, all-conference guard; Derek Holcomb, a defensive specialist and all-conference center; and Jim Hohstadt, conference leader in free-throw shooting. The Richwoods Regional proved to be two of the best games they played all year. They set a school scoring record with 121 points in defeating Canton. In the title game they defeated Galesburg and won a chance to meet archrival Peoria High in the Sectional. The Knights were able to avenge their loss from the previous year and advanced to the supersectional, where they defeated North Central Sterling Warriors to reach the Elite Eight for the first time. They won their first game at state then dropped the last two to finish fourth. The Knights finished with a 30-3 record and 16-0 in conference play.

Pictured:

ft to right: Coach Hammerton, K. Sims, J. Hohstadt, J. Grigsby, K. Westervelt, A. Cornelius, M. Smith, D. Marr, D. Holcomb, C. Williams, S. Miller, G. St. Julian, D. Stein, J. Dixon, K. Kowalis, Assistant Coaches Eisele and Snarr.