1984-85 Elite 8 Basketball Reunion

Thirty-five years later...the 1984-85 Elite 8 Basketball team was recognized on Feb. 1, 2020.
Seated: Head Coach Mike Crews
Standing left to right: Asst. Coach Ron Knupp, Bryan Craig, manager Brad Stearns, Doug Crews, Jeff Denny,
RJ Crunk, Roger Choate, David Prater, Rob Wright, Brian Ury, Tim Greenwood and Joel Reed
Not pictured:David Marvel and Tim Hammon and manager Tyler Ragan
Also recognized: the late Jim Morrison and the late Brian Garrett

1984-85 Wildcat Basketball Team Notes
as compiled by Brad Palmer

* A-J finished 4th in the Old Southwest Egyptian Conference
* It was the first Regional Title in 23 years
* The team started 7-0...then treaded water going 7-8 over the next 15 games to statnd at 14-8...then won 7 in a row
through the Regional, Sectional & Super-Sectional...then lost the Elite 8 game to Harvard to finish 21-9
* It was the first State Tournament appearance since 1944

Regional Championship at Meridian
A-J 90 - Cairo 87 (OT) - Broke the Cairo Pilots streak of 4 consecutive Regional Titles
Brian Ury 37 points

Sectional Semi-final at West Frankfort
A-J 59 - McLeansboro 55 - The Foxes were the defending State Champions

Sectional Championship at West Frankfort
A-J 76 - Eldorado 63 - Eldorado was coached by Joe Hosman
Rob Wright 23 points
Brian Ury 20 points
Jim Morrison 15 points
Joel Reed 10 points
Roger Choate 4 points
David Prater 4 points

Class A Super-Sectional at SIU Arena
A-J 69 - Du Quoin 68 - Nearly 10,000 fans were in attendance
The Indians upset previously unbeaten Breese Mater Dei in the Sectional Final

Rob Wright 25 points (13 in the final 7 minutes)
Briam Ury 21 points
Roger Choate 10 points
Jim Morrison 9 points
Joel Reed 4 points

Class A Quarterfinal at Assembly Hall University of Illinois
Harvard 74 - A-J 61 - An estimated 1,100 A-J fans made the trip
The Wildcats trailed by just 1 at half (35-34) but a bad 3rd quarter doomed the team

Rob Wright 18 points & 10 rebounds
Jim Morrison 16 points
Brian Ury 14 points & 10 rebounds
Joel Reed 11 points & 11 assists
Roger Choate 2 points

Interviews as conducted by Brad Palmer

Doug Crews - Sophomore