Western Big 6 schools have won 7 State Basketball Championships in girls and boys basketball.
1913 Galesburg (Boys)
1934 Quincy (Boys)
1977 Sterling (Girls)
1981 Quincy (Boys)
2005 Alleman (Girls)
2011 Rock Island (Boys)
2023 Moline (Boys)
In 2004 Alleman lost in the Supersectional to Carthage. They blasted thru the Regionals and Sectionals to State in 2005 on their way to the State Championship.
Alleman went 4-6 in the Western Big 6, but won 3 of their last 4 games in conference. The Pioneers finished 27-1 vs non-WB6 schools. Their only loss outside the WB6 was to Peoria Richwoods, who won the 2A State title (two-classes).
The respect for Alleman showed in the final AP rankings. The Pioneers were ranked #4 with a 23-7 at the end of the regular season.
In today’s sports where often kids don’t want to keep playing a sport if they are not going to be a starter or a star, Alleman had 7 seniors on their varsity roster.
During the season, 8 different players led the Pioneers in scoring. No player averaged in double figures. Seven players- Amanda Clifton, Jessica Sedam, Katie Manning, Anna Bruty, Maria Pocivasek, Emily Chester, and Colleen Kilbridge- averaged between 5.4ppg to 9.1ppg.
During the State tourney, Amanda Clifton scored 17 points in the championship game. That is the only time in the State tourney that an Alleman player scored more than 12 points.
Because of the balance of the team, the Rock Island Argus voted the Pioneers as the “Player of the Year” for 2005 season as a salute to their balance and teamwork.
They were induced into the IBCA HOF.
Western Illinois with Carthage and Quincy Notre Dame had produced several State championships that Alleman had to battle thru.
In the quarter finals, Alleman beat Nashville in a low scoring 32-27 game.
The semi-finals the Pioneers beat Sterling Newman 53-48.
In the championship game, Alleman defeated Chicago Hope 58-53.
Jay Hatch was the coach of Alleman. Coach Hatch coached 23 years at Alleman, compiling a 456-270 record. His teams won 15 Regionals, 7 Sectionals, and made 3 trips to State. His teams took 3rd in 2002 and 1st in 2005.
Jay also coached 14 years of softball at Alleman, compiling 363-127 record. Those teams won 10 Regionals, 8 Sectionals, 7 trips to State, 3 times State championships, and 1 time second place.
Putting it all together, Coach Hatch had a combined record in the two sports of 819-397, 25 Regional Championships, 15 Sectional Championships, and 4 State Championships.
The 2005 Alleman Pioneers are indeed “Legends of the WB6.”
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