Twenty years ago, the Russellville High School Panthers put together one of the program’s finest seasons. Last Friday, the athletic department recognized that 1998 Panther Basketball Team.
Under the direction of Head Coach Phil Todd and Assistant Coach Kim Swift, the 1998 Panthers (21-8) won district and regional championships but lost 80-63 to nationally ranked Lexington Catholic in the 1st round of the Sweet 16.
They beat Franklin Simpson and Logan County to win the district title. They had narrow wins over Metcalfe County, Greenwood, and then beat Bowling Green 60-57 to win the school’s first regional championship.
The All-District performers were Thad Key, Michael Morris, and Marcus Gaines. All-Regional team members were Anthony Woodard and Key. The cheerleaders were Miranda Mallory, Candice Greenwell, Melissa Grohovsky, Juliana Troxler, Mellisa Golden, Lauren Harrell, Rhonda Jones, Crystal Stinson, Shannon Kees, Jill Dunbar, Quincy Kolb, and Amy Miller.
Players were Thad Key, Tony Key, Michael Morris, Anthony Woodard, Jesse Wright, Ryan Davenport, Steven Thomason, Jeryn Lee, Michael Walker, Nathan Thompson, Travis Leavell, Marcus Gaines, Cedric Offutt, Ricky Duncan, and Chris Elliott.
Players shown in the photo top left are, from left, Thad Key, Jesse Wright, Ryan Davenport, Marcus Gaines, Michael Morris, Ricky Duncan, Tony Key, Cedric Offutt, Chris Elliott, Nathan Thompson (partially hidden) along with Coach Phil Todd.