1982-83 Varsity Boys Basketball Team

The 1982-83 Pirates compiled a 27-3 record and advanced to the IHSA Class AA Supersectional (at the time Illinois had 2 basketball classes, with Class AA including the largest schools). They were 11-0 in the NCIC Conference, winning the conference title, and were champions in the Regional and Sectional tournaments. In the first game of the Rock Island Sectional, the Pirates prevailed over Geneseo 84-79 in a historic 5-overtime game. They then won the Sectional with a 1-point win over Moline. The Pirates, ranked 13th in the state, then lost to 5th ranked, and eventual State runner-up, Peoria Central in the Peoria Supersectional. The Pirates’ only other losses were to Rock Island in the Quad City Thanksgiving Tournament, and to Chicago Weber in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Dave Moran received All-State status from the Chicago Sun Times. Dave Moran, Mike Cassidy, and Daryl Deckard each received All-NCIC 1st team recognition. The Team kneeling row: Scott Miller, Paul Ledbetter, Matt Krieger, Bill Ryan, John Biffany, Bob Humer, Steve Marten, John Myers; standing row: Head Coach Gary Vancil, Assistant Coach Tom Henderson, Jeff Aicher, Andy Seth, Jeff Schmoeger, Mike Cassidy, Dave Moran, Daryl Deckard, Kevin Hollahan, Marcus McCollum, Manager Randi Phelps. Missing from photograph: Manager Tony Roberts.