Basketball Hall of Fame

The 1989 Class AA boys' state basketball tournament had it all. An unforgettable, magic-filled weekend in Champaign at the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall came down to the most exhausting and exhilarating finish to determine a champion. The 1988-89 Peoria High School Boys Basketball team was coached by Chuck Buescher and led by tough point guard Chris Reynolds. Mike Hughes was a long and lean scoring threat, Tyrone Howard's shot in the final 15 seconds gave Central a one-point state quarterfinal win, and undersized forward Charles White did whatever was needed. The team won its first 32 games to reach the title game.

In the championship game, East St. Louis Lincoln and Peoria Central took each other's best shots through 32 minutes of regulation. Reynolds was hit with a controversial technical foul in the first overtime, but Central survived that when Hughes beat the buzzer with a baseline jumper.

Central had a shot to win at the end of the second overtime that rimmed out, and for the first time in state history, the championship game went to a third overtime. Both teams traded big shots, and it looked as if overtime would again be necessary, but East St. Louis Lincoln hit a shot at the buzzer to win 59-57.

Picured:

Front Row, left to right: Daniel Rogers-Mgr., Chris Jones-Mgr., Larry Burnett, Marcus Albert, John Seckler, Mike Kirksey, Lamont Thomas, Ray Davis, Tremayne Coleman, Kerby Link-Mgr., Corey Ching-Mgr.

Back row, left to right: Bob Darling-Assistant Coach, John Long-Assistant Coach, Charles Buescher-Coach, Charles White, Chris Reynolds, Tryone Howard, Cartney Sazone, Michael Hughes, Anthony Cotton, Brad Bevis-Trainer, Mike Plunkett-Assistant Coach.