RLC Hall of Fame to honor '88-89 team

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Introducing, the perfect starting lineup in 1988-89 for the most accomplished team in more than a half-century of Warrior basketball (Mt. Vernon Community College, 1957-67; Rend Lake College, 1967-present) . . .

"A man among boys." "Far and away, the best true post player we ever had." "As much of a leader as anybody we had." "Unselfish." "A team player. It didn't matter if he scored 20 points or 2." "He really, really wanted to win." Meet 6-foot-6, 225-pound sophomore transfer Antwan Stallworth (Hammond, IN, by way of Danville Area Community College).

The Great Rivers Athletic Conference "Most Valuable Player," leading vote-getter on the All-Region XXIV Team and NJCAA Third-Team All-America selection "was just an animal on the boards," in the appreciative words of his coach, Mitch Haskins.

Third-year swingman Chad Rushing (Pinckneyville), the All-Region XXIV and All-GRAC pick and All-Region Tournament "MVP" who was 6-6 "but had those long arms that made him more like 6-10. In addition to being a good offensive player, he was a really good defender thanks in part to those long arms." "Well-coached." "Fundamentally sound." "A high-character guy."

"What a great athlete. He could run and jump and do everything you would want in a complete basketball player." GRAC "Freshman of the Year" Abdul Muhammad (Ford Heights / Bloom Trail High School), 6-6 power forward "could run like a deer and jump." "He had the ability to use both hands." "He could shoot the 12-14-footer or drive the baseline." "His quickness and basketball instincts helped him defensively." "Very adept at getting the ball off the offensive boards and scoring." "Played hard and took care of business."

Local hero Tommy Hayes (Mt. Vernon), the 6-4 sophomore floor general "who made our offense go." "He was willing to make the conversion from shooting guard in high school to point guard for us." "He sacrificed his offensive skills to make us a better team." "At 6-4 with really long arms, he was difficult to defend because he could see over smaller opponents." The GRAC "Sportsmanship Award" winner "really did a good job of sacrificing himself for the good of the team - breaking down defenses, reversing the ball and giving us greater opportunities to score." "A high-character guy, also."

Forget the sacrifice, Hayes still managed to drill 66 career 3-pointers, a team record by one.

Tennessee Traveler Ernest Hickman (Dyersburg), a 6-3 swingman, "was another great defender who could shoot the ball from 18 feet when he was open." "Especially effective at the two-man game along with Rushing." "A very good person and 'a pretty doggone good player,' " according to the recommendation of a former teammate of Haskins on a traveling coaches' team in Southeast Missouri. Hickman and Hayes share the team record for having played in more games than any other Warrior (70) and more winning games (52).

Those five headliners and a deep supporting cast for 1988-89 will accompany consensus "Coach of the Year" Haskins into the Rend Lake College Sports Hall of Fame during 12th annual Induction Ceremonies Saturday evening, November 6, on the Ina campus.

The first of 53 Men's Basketball teams to enter the RLC Sports Hall of Fame will share center stage with three individuals and a National Championship Indoor Track Relay Team at 6.

Depth and balance were equally important components for a best-ever 29-6 quintet, fueled by first-ever Region XXIV and GRAC (13-3) championships, a record 12-game winning streak late and a perfect 13-0 homecourt record in Hummer Hall. The Warriors were No. 19 in National Junior College Athletic Association Division I preseason rankings and climbed to a high of 12th.

Eight records established by these Warriors also included those for Team Rebounds - 1,317, representing an average edge of 38-24 over the 35-game season - and Best Won-Lost Percentage (.829). Not to mention Most 3-Point Attempts - 18 vs. Cleveland State.

Stallworth, who netted 37 points (14-16 FG) with 11 rebounds at SIC, averaged 15.1 points per game, 9.3 rebounds (high of 16 against NJCAA Finalist Vincennes) and 2.1 assists. He ranked 10th nationally with his 66.0 field-goal percentage (217-329) and also led his team in steals/recoveries (54), blocked shots (24) and charges drawn (14). His 530 points tied for seventh-best in Warrior history.

Rushing, who broke his collarbone the first game as a true freshman in 1986 and was granted an extra year of eligibility, boasted 747 career points in 68 games, 14th all-time.

Haskins is quick to point out he had considerable help at his end of the spectrum, also. Recipient of a Special Achievement Alumnus Award from Oakland City (IN) College previously, he was inducted into his alma mater's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Southeast Missouri Coaching Legends Hall of Fame in 2006.

But he shares credit for the 1988-89 success with a contingent of Assistant Coaches which included longtime confidant, former Christopher High School mentor and basketball junkie Tom Wheeler, in his fifth season on the Warrior bench; former Warrior floor general Darin Lee, 24, who had coaching in his blood after playing for his father, David Lee, at McLeansboro, and 23-year-old Rodney Rodgers, who was an assistant the previous year for Belleville Area when the Dutchmen reached the national finals with a 76-67 Region XXIV championship verdict over RLC.

Darin Lee, well-schooled in the "flex" offense run by the Warriors and a very good teacher of the game, has proven to be one of the top prep mentors in Southern Illinois after successful stints at Anna-Jonesboro, many years at Nashville and now Collinsville. Rodgers later left the coaching ranks and is now a Major in the military.

RLC Chemistry Instructor John Fisher, the brother of the Interim Coach of the NCAA National Champion Michigan Wolverines and now Head Coach at San Diego State, Herrin native Steve Fisher, voluntarily served as Assistant Coach / Supervised Study.

Haskins had to smile when he recalled one incident involving the easy-going Gaddey. "I had just called a play we were supposed to run. It involved several passes, the typical screens and reversing the ball. We had just started running it when the ball goes to Gaddey, who immediately shoots a three. I yelled at him, 'What in the world do you think we are running?'

" 'We're playing offense, Coach. Offense,' " he yelled back.

Another incident proved to be even more meaningful. In the fourth game, against Mississippi County (AR) in the opening game of the Three Rivers Classic, the 3-0 Warriors played poorly the first half "and I ripped 'em pretty good at halftime. We played a little better the second half and we won (67-55) but I ripped them afterward, too," Haskins recalled.

"Finally, Twann (Stallworth) had had enough and spoke up: 'Coach, we want to win as much as you want to win. We'll come back and show you,' " he concluded.

A man of his word, with teammates who had his enormous back.