Basketball Hall of Fame

Manual High School's 1986 girls basketball state championship team had every ingredient for success. Coached by Dennis Brown, the Rams had a superstar in 6-foot-3 Carla McGhee, solid additional frontline size in 6-foot Holly Baker and 5-foot-11 Micah Bingeman and talented guards in Monica King and Rissa Taylor.

The only problem Manual had in rolling to the Class AA state championship was in getting past old rival Peoria Central. Forging a 27-3 season, all three losses had come at the hands of Central in the regular season, but in the sectional title game Manual finally slipped past Central 46-44 after blitzing Quincy 70-44 in the first round.

Champaign Centennial was easily handled 55-35 in the super sectional.

McGhee, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds for the season, scored 22 with 14 rebounds as Wheaton North was ripped 57-40 in the first round of the state.

She had just nine points against East St. Louis Lincoln, but Baker had 20 points and 21 rebounds in the 51-46 win and McGhee came back with 24 points in the title game, a 57-46 verdict over Chicago Marshall.

McGhee and Baker were named to the state tourney first team and McGhee was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association first team as well as several all-state teams.

She was also picked for the third team all-American squad by Parade Magazine and was selected for the fourth time to the Mid-State 10 first team.

Baker and Bingeman were also named to the all-conference team while King made the second team and Taylor earned honorable mention honors.

Pictured:

Insert, upper right: Head coach Dennis Brown

In front, from left: Monica King and Veronica Brown

Front row, from left: Micah Bingeman, Carla McGhee, Annette Moore, Jennifer King.

Second row, from left: Allison Grane, Joyce Jackson, Rissa Taylor, Cosheka Augusta.

Back row, from left: Holly Baker, Dawn Watts, Sharon Neal.