Inductees

Trina Osborne Williams remembers the team’s loyal supporters, who turned out even on the road. Others point to the 19-point comeback in the state semifinals as showing the team’s heart. And nobody will never forget hoisting the state championship trophy around midnight in Columbia.

After all, the 1984 Central High School Lady Bulldogs became the first girls basketball team in Springfield Public Schools history to win a state championship, doing so in Class 4, the largest classification at the time.

“There’s not enough adjectives to describe why this team was so special,” coach Susan Alley said. “Extremely coachable, unselfish, high basketball IQ. They figured out and accepted their identity early on, as well as employing winning habits and a winning mentality. And they weren’t afraid of hard work.”

Thus, their success is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted 1984 Central High School Girls State Championship Team with the Class of 2025.

The Lady Bulldogs finished 30-2 after beating St. Louis Lindbergh 56-43 in the finals. That came after a 50-45 upset of No. 1-ranked Hazelwood Central, rallying from a 19-point deficit.

The varsity’s six-person rotation featured guards Osborne, Kim Johnson and Angie Marshall, and forwards Janice Johnson, Regina Johnson and Kim White. The junior varsity, which pushed them in practice and made them better, included Beth Manley, Thresa Cowan, Deidra Allen, Vanessa Clarida, Angel Adams, Teresa McGee, Linda Johnson, Derenda Horton, Lisa Willhite and Sue Rice.

Managers were Becky Stacye, Susie Tolliver, Tonia Duncan and Bridget Donson.

It was Alley’s eighth season in coaching and fourth at Central, after having played basketball and softball and graduated from Missouri State University.

Where did they draw inspiration?

“Our community,” Williams said. “We had hundreds, maybe a thousand supporters, throughout our community: old, young, men, women, classmates. It was a beautiful thing.”

Said Marshall, “We enjoyed playing with each other, and we supported each other, gave each other praise. Coach Alley was the best coach. She taught us a lot.”

Several seniors had started as sophomores, and a tough ending in March 1983 fueled their fire. They had suffered a loss to Glendale in the sectional, with Glendale going on to earn a state runner-up finish.

“These kids had a passion for basketball,” Alley said. “They would play against boys and college students, would often leave weekend practices and go to the park and play pick-up games.”

Alley also implemented a weight-lifting program, which likely played a role in 1984, given the schedule challenged the six-person rotation.

It certainly showed in the state semifinals. Central beat Hillcrest for the district title, Kickapoo by 10 in the sectionals and then easily handled Jefferson City in the quarterfinals.

“(Hazelwood) was ranked No. 1 in the state most of the season and were a very tall and physical team,” Alley said. “Playing Kickapoo prepared us a little for that game, but Hazelwood was by far the tallest team we faced. Once we figured out what it was going to take to get back into that game and then actually executing it, we chipped away and were fine.”

Central trailed by only five points at halftime and then kept spreading out the floor offensively.

“They played right into our hands,” Alley said. “We also started blocking out better and getting into the passing lanes on defense and got some steals and fastbreaks going.”

Osborne told the News-Leader, “It’s going to take more than a good bunch of basketball players to stop us now.”

Osborne scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds, plus had five steals and two assists. Kim Johnson had eight points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Marshall had six points, six rebounds and four steals.

The Lady Bulldogs had no trouble with Lindbergh. Trina (13), Kim (11), Angie (15) and Janice (10) scored in double figures, with Janice (10) and White snaring 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

Osborne and Marshall earned First Team All-State and All-City, while both were also All-Ozarks by the News-Leader. Those two and Janice Johnson also were All-District.

Previously, the only SPS girls team to win a state title was Parkview golf, in 1982. In fact, only nine girls teams in SPS have ever won state titles.

And now comes induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Marshall said. “The hard work we put in every day at practice paid off. It’s been 41 years ago, and we’re finally here, at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. An awesome feeling.”