MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions celebrates Richwoods High School

The 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Illinois on Tuesday, May 1 to recognize Richwoods (Peoria, Ill.) High School and its girls basketball team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended Nazareth Academy 55-46 in the IHSA Class 3A state championship contest, the 35-1 Knights claimed Richwoods' first girls state basketball title since 2009, its fourth overall and earned the No. 29 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings! Richwoods is one of 10 girls basketball programs nationally being recognized on the 2017-18 Tour of Champions.

MaxPreps and the Illinois Army National Guard joined forces with over 1,400 students, faculty, parents and fans, who packed the main gymnasium for an awards ceremony like no other. There to honor the senior class and reward them for their labors at Richwoods High School, principal Brett Elliott used a portion of the ‘Standard of Excellence' honors ceremony to allow the community to captivate, exalt and celebrate the girls basketball accomplishments of the Knights one more time.

As the crowd awaited the trophy presentation, there was a strong presence from the Illinois Army National Guard. Sergeants Crow, Faulkner and Willis rallied the crowd, while Staff Sergeant Jacob Servis congratulated the Knights and their coaches on a year of excellence! SSG Servis stated that the Knights could not have reached the level of play they did without their ‘strong efforts and teamwork.'

With that, SSG Servis congratulated head coach Todd Hursey and presented him with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy from the Illinois Army National Guard. Like a hot potato, Hursey quickly handed the ‘Minuteman' trophy, as it is also known, to the Knights while telling the admiring crowd how proud he was of the girls and how hard they'd worked. Hursey humbly stood back and allowed the state champions to carry the trophy with honor!

Last winter's Knights were unique in many facets. They had a great work ethic and stood united. Several of the players commented about the "great chemistry" they and their Richwoods teammates had. It was clear that Hursey's Knights were proud of what they had accomplished this past season, and that they were laser focused on how to fill the gap knowing they were losing two senior players to graduation. Coach Hursey expects greatness from his Knights and they are willing, and able, to dedicate themselves to it! On this amazing day, the community came together in support of Hursey and the Knights and the cheers from the crowd roared with their enthusiasm! Congratulations to the Knights of Richwoods High School!!!

Click here to view the Richwoods TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Basketball TOC, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.