1984-85 Varsity Boys Basketball Team

The 1984-85 Boys Basketball Team finished at 23-6, and is the most recent team to make it to the “Elite Eight” in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament. At the time Illinois held their championships in two classes based on enrollment, with OTHS competing in the largest, Class AA. Illinois moved to the two class system in the 1971-72 season, then to its current four class system in 2007-08. The team was crowned the Ottawa Thanksgiving Tournament Champion, as well as the North Central Illinois Conference (NCIC) Co-Champion with a record of 11-1. During the IHSA State Tournament they won the Regional title with a 76-60 victory over L-P, the Sectional title with a 60-58 victory over Rock Falls, the Supersectional “Sweet Sixteen” with a 67-65 victory over Peoria Richwoods, who was ranked 6th in the State, before being eliminated in the “Elite Eight” 81-66 by Cahokia. The Pirates were a perfect 12-0 in OTHS’s iconic Kingman Gym, extending the Pirates consecutive home game winning streak to 44. Captain Scott Miller was a unanimous NCIC first team selection, selected third team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, was the top scorer and rebounder and named MVP by his teammates. Mark Setchell and Rick Hayne were NCIC second team selections. The team front row L-R: Matt Winchester, Dave Yell, Brent Sonday, Dewey Gould, Rick Hayne, Mike Sipula, Brad Hartshorn, Ted Trager; back row L-R: Head Coach Gary Vancil, George Johnson, Mark Setchell, Tony Sinning, Scott Miller, Greg Streul, Jay Stortz, Manager Neal Wallace, and Assistant Coach Tom Henderson.