No amount of gloomy weather was going to get in the way of Peoria welcoming its champions home.
One day after the Manual High School Rams won the Class 2A boys state basketball championship in Champaign, the community came out to celebrate with a victory parade that wound through the streets Sunday afternoon.
The parade started and ended at Manual High School at 811 S. Griswold Street. The city’s fire and police departments led the escort. Fans and family cheered them on, despite an incoming spring storm.
It was the team’s sixth state title — and its first since 1997.
Saturday’s title game, at the State Farm Center, came down to the final seconds. Senior Joshua Humbles stepped to the free throw line and secured a 60–55 win over Quincy Notre Dame High.
“What’s going on through my head was, I got to make these to make my team proud,” Humbles said Sunday. “It just feels incredible to be able to bring back the winning culture around manual and around Peoria.”
Jaquan Brown led all scorers with 23 points in the title game. He said he knew the outcome before tip-off.
“We had it locked in before the game started,” Brown said. “In the locker room.”
Brown said the 29-year title drought was motivation all season. “Definitely has really motivated us to get this chip,” he said.
Head coach Marvin Jordan was voted Peoria-area boys basketball coach of the year during the regular season. Junior player Ladon Carter agreed with the assessment, calling Jordan the “best coach I've ever seen.”
Jordan said the championship was validation but also a starting point.
“The practice plans I come in with, the work that I’ve been putting in, it’s not going unnoticed, and it works,” Jordan said. “So, you know, just giving me something to keep continuing to build on.”
Jordan added that what mattered most to him was what the players would carry away from the celebration.
“Just seeing the support from the community,” he said. “I think seeing all the people coming out when they don’t have to…just being there to be happy for us is gonna be good for the boys to see.”
Senior Jaemel Shipp said he was looking forward to the parade, “the last moments being together as a team.”
By 4 p.m. Sunday, the parade had circled back to Manual High School. The clouds opened up and thunder rang through the city.
