McLeansboro Lady Foxes IHSA 3rd Place 1986-87 Back Row (L to R): Coach Willie Grubb, Cherri Coy, Sara Grubb, Denise Bowers, Tina Thomas, Wendy Wingo, Kerri Grubb, Sharon Bowman, Ron Winemiller, and Coach Louis Winemiller. Middle Row: Joyce Hill, Kim Parker, Lori Kirsch, Jenny Webb, Paula Mitchell, Deanna Smith, Dawn Coomes, Holly Sloan, and Joella Chappo. Front Row: Kristi Stanley, Amy Rubenacker, Alicia Ellingsworth, Maretta Wolf, and Chassity Simmons.

THE GIRLS IN GREEN:

The McLeansboro Lady Foxes basketball team waited 10 years to capture their first regional title in 1985-1986. However, the Girls in Green wasted no time regaining the post-season magic. The goal was simple: To go “[w]here no Lady Fox has gone before,” according to Don Hill of the McLeansboro Times-Leader

The Lady Foxes entered the regional with a 21-2 record. Both losses came early in the season to Harrisburg and Massac Co., both double-A schools. With the Eldorado and Woodlawn tournament championships, McLeansboro earned an 18-game winning streak going into the post-season.

Ranked 10th in Illinois, the Girls in Green continued winning until the reached the hallowed shrine named Assembly Hall. In the quarterfinals, McLeansboro sent Chicago (Luther North) north with a 52-46 victory. In the semifinals, 2nd ranked Carthage (Hancock Central) broke the Lady Foxes 24-game winning streak, 47-39. McLeansboro quickly rebounded, winning the Third Place game 47-39 against Hume (Shiloh).

Seniors Kerri Grubb and Lori Kirsch earned All-Tournament honors for 1987. Kirsch scored 62 points at Champaign, only behind state winning Seneca’s Cindy Kaufmann with 86.

McLeansboro.com invites you to stroll through this collection of Times-Leader articles and follow the Girls in Green to their Statebound dreams.

Varisty Team Has 28-3 Season
Opponent	W/L	Score
Pinckneyville	Won	65-28
Flora	Won	65-49
Massac County	Loss	49-62
Carmi	Won	86-26
Harrisburg	Loss	47-49
Benton	Won	52-30
Eldorado	Won	76-55
Carrier Mills	Won	58-24
Edwards County	Won	58-24
Eldorado	Won	58-48
Herrin	Won	37-18
Cairo	Won	66-40
Woodlawn	Won	51-30
Sesser	Won	62-37
Woodlawn	Won	45-34
Christopher	Won	93-35
Fairfield	Won	52-32
Eldorado Tournament
Cairo	Won	66-34
Eldorado	Won	60-40
Marion	Won	45-40
Woodlawn Tournament
Waltonville	Won	67-19
Wayne City	Won	70-21
Sandoval	Won	44-39
McLeansboro Regional
Carrier Mills	Won	78-28
Eldorado	Won	55-52
Anna-Jonesboro Sectional
Cairo	Won	72-34
Cobden	Won	61-45
Eldorado Super-Sectional
Sandoval	Won	37-32
Champaign State Tournament
Luther North	Won	52-46
Carrithage	Loss	39-47
Hume Shilo	Won	59-38

Pre-Season:

• Lady Foxes Go For Best Ever In '86 Campaign.

Regular Season:

• Lady Foxes Striving For Second Regional Crown.

Pre-Regional - Sugar & Spice:

• Logan-Bound Kirsch Hoping For Trip To Champaign.
  
• Grubb And Grubb Lend Experience To Lady Foxes.
  
• 21-Victory Season Takes Back Seat For Regional.

The Regional:

• Lady Foxes' Late Rally Earns Them Regional Crown.

The Sectional:

• Lady Foxes Set To Appear In Sectional Final.

The Super Sectional:

• Lady Foxes To State

In Campaign:

• Ladies Did The Kicking Against Wildcats.
  
• Bluegirls Topped Ladies At Own Game.
  
• Lady Foxes Capture Third At Champaign.
  
• Tourney Roundup.

Winning Reflections:

• Banner Season.
  
• Regal Welcome Greeted Triumphant Ladies.