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It
didn't take Michele Reed long to leave an
impression.
Promoted
to a starting position with the Centralia
High School girls varsity team midway
through her freshman season, she scored 28
points and 10 rebounds to help the Orphan
Annies stud Mascoutah in a regional
semi-final. "I'm
not really good on details," said Reed
who is a member of the Centralia Sports Hall
of Fame's Class of 2017. "I
remember more about the bus rides to games
and the camaraderie we had as a team.
Those are things I'll remember more than
anything else." but
as a 4-year starter in basketball an
standout in volleyball and softball as well,
she was an athlete to remember at CHS in her
career that went from 1990 to
1993. "I
had a good four years," said Reed who
would go on to become the Orphan Annie's
all-time leading scorer in basketball with
1,383 points while playing on three 20-win
teams, a sectional finalist in volleyball
and three regional champions in
softball. "I was fortunate to be
on some talented teams and had a lot of
fun." Arriving
at CHS as a freshman, she found herself as a
regular in the Annies' lineup in a
rebuilding year that was constructed into
consecutive seasons of 21-7, 27-3 and 29-2. In
her sophomore season Centralia was a South 7
Conference co-champion and won a Class AA
Regional as Reed averaged 11 points per
game. As
a junior she led the Annies in scoring at 14
points a game and was second in rebounding
an steals in helping Centralia to South 7
Conference as well as Class AA Regional and
Sectional titles and a Sweet 16 berth in the
super-sectional held in Trout Gym. Her
senior season was one to remember as the
Annies again claimed conference, regional
and sectional crowns in addition to reach
the Class AA state quarterfinals. In
addition, Reed picked up her 1,000th point
in the season opener versus Mascoutah en
route to establishing the CHS career scoring
record. "Going
to state that year was definitely a
thrill," said Reed. "As a
team we trusted each other and you wanted to
do the best you could for your
teammates." An
all-conference honoree, she was also named
to the Southern Illinois Coaches Association
All-South team. "Michele
was not only a great scorer but a good
defensive player as well," said
Centralia coach Ann Murray after Reed's
senior season. "She also has the
ability to run the court and score off the
stel. He's also able to handle the
ball." In
the spring Reed made a name for herself on
the softball diamond all four years. Stepping
right into the starting lineup at shortstop
as a freshman, she batted .286 and had a
team-high 18 stolen bases. Following
that she batted .350 with 21 RBI as a
sophomore as Centralia went 23-9 and to the
sectional finals. In her junior campaign she
hit four home runs while batting .330 in
helping Centralia to a seventh consecutive
regional championship. She
concluded her softball career her softball
career with a .338 mark as a senior, with 3
homers. In
volleyball she was named Outstanding Jayvee
Player as a sophomore and two years later
was the recipient of the Outstanding Varsity
Player award as a senior. In
between she was also a starter on the 1991
Annie's squad which finished a 22-5-1,and
captured the first South 7 Conference title
in that sport in CHS history, and won a
regional and sectional semifinal before
falling to No. 1 ranked and eventual state
champion Belleville West in the
championship. Reed
is entering the Hall of Fame for a second
time. Last year she was inducted with
the 1992-93 Annies basketball squad. :You
get busy with life and I almost didn't go
[to last year's ceremonies], said Reed, who
resides in South Carolina with her husband
and three children. "But I did
and had a great time. "When
you see all the great athletes who have been
inducted [into the Hall of Fame] you truly
feel honored." list@morningsentinel.com
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