After finishing 2nd in the IHSA State Tournament in 1997, the Lady Tornadoes were a pre-season selection to make a deep run into the State Tournament again in 1998.  With four returning starters, including all-state guards Allison Curtin and Lora Weber the Lady Tornadoes, coached by Carol Wilson, did not disappoint.  The team opened the season winning their first fourteen games by an average of 50 points per game, topping 85 points in six of those wins. Playing in the Chicago Public League Christmas Tournament finals, the Lady Tornadoes suffered their only loss of the regular season to perennial power Chicago Marshall 82-69.  Following that loss, the Lady Tornadoes started another winning streak, this time winning the next twelve games and earning a state ranking as the third best team in the state and a top 25 selection to the USA Today best teams in the country. The Lady Tornadoes entered the IHSA Regionals with a 26 – 1 record and quickly disposed of St Jacob Triad and Highland to win the regional.  In the Sectional Tournament, Taylorville downed Paris and Olney East Richland to Advance to the Super Sectional against East St Louis Lincoln in East St Louis. In what was considered by many who attended, as the best girls’ basketball game they had ever seen, the Lady Tornadoes season came to an end with a 70-67 overtime loss to the Tigers. Coached by Carol Wilson, Tonya Goodroe and Gary McCullough the Lady Tornadoes finished the season with a 30 -2 record.  Members of the team are Allison Curtin, Lora Weber, Suzanne Curtin, Jenny Weber, Lacy McFarland, Elizabeth Salisbury, Andrea Payne, Delanee Brown, Misty Enlow, Leanne Specha, Tomra Friesland, Alexis Givens, Jennifer Mills, and Melissa Bilyeu.