1998-99 GIRL'S BASKETBALL RECAPS

Johnson block stuffs Cardinals' upset bid

By Liam Marlaire
Leader-Telegram staff

Eau Claire, WI. (2/19/99) -- There are times in the often unpredictable world of athletics that events transpire in a manner even a screenwriter might script. Such was the case Friday night at the Doghouse.

Not only did Eau Claire North's Chandra Johnson pace the Huskies on offense with a game-high 22 points, but she collected 14 rebounds and provided the game's pivotal play on defense as North edged Chippewa Falls 52-50 in overtime.

Chandra Johnson

The regular-season finale for both teams leaves the Huskies with a 11-3 record in second place in the final Big Rivers Conference standings. The much-improved Chippewa Falls squad, winless in the BRC a year ago, tied for fifth with Rice Lake with a 5-9 league mark.

Although the Cardinals offered a tenacious bid for an upset Friday, the Huskies' inside game simply proved too much down the stretch. Johnson missed the earlier clash between the rivals, a 47-35 North victory, due to a severe ankle sprain. But she came back with a vengence in the overtime thriller.

"It's a continuum," said Huskies coach Chico LaBarbera. "From the kids who played great in a 2-minute role to the other end of spectrum.

"Chandra was just on fire. In a way, she really came of age on both offense and defense in this game."

A determined Chippewa Falls team battled the Huskies close early. North enjoyed a 16-12 lead after one quarter despite facing a defense which held the Huskies' top two scorers, Larissa Parr (11.4 ppg) and Kristi Gehring (10.3), to six and nine points, respectively.

"I told the girls at practice Tuesday that (the Cardinals) were going to be a challenge," LaBarbera said. "The Chippewa Falls coaching staff has done a great job."

North cut into a slim deficit late in the opening half, but the Cardinals went on a 15-5 run to enjoy a six-point advantage at the break. For much of the second quarter, however, Johnson sat silent with two fouls. With such constraits lifted in the second half and overtime, the senior center let loose for 12 of her game-high point total.

"This team's been doing this all year," La Barbera said. "They all have their roles. It just depends on who's hot and who's not. They support each other well which is a key to our success."

Chippewa Falls managed to maintain a slight advantage for much of the second half, but a bucket from Larissa Parr knotted the contest at 45-45 with 3 minutes, 49 seconds remaining in regulation. With time running down, the Cardinals' Becca Spaeth scored to tie the contest once again at 49. The junior came up just short on a desperation 3-pointer for the game-winner, however, and Johnson owned overtime.

Each team converted single free throws to open the extra session's scoring, but the Cardinals had possession with 17 seconds remaining.

As the game's final seconds sailed by, Spaeth sized up what initially appeared to be a good look at the basket for a 3-point attempt. Johnson flew through several defenders in the lane to notch her second block of the period and seal the North victory.

"I knew she was going to shoot it," Johnson said. "I couldn't decide whether or not to block it but thought 'What the heck?' I just tried to keep my arms straight and not lean into it."

Rachel Evjen added seven points for the Huskies and blanketed Chippewa Falls point guard Danielle Borneman throughout the game. Evjen also led the host team in steals with three. Spaeth and Angie Ott led the Cardinals with 15 points each.

Chippewa Falls opens the postseason at D.C. Everest in Schofield Tuesday for a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal. The Huskies host Eau Claire Memorial the same evening.

"It's going to be a battle," LaBarbera warned, regarding the intracity matchup. "It always has been and always will. I don't anticipate that ever changing."

CHIPPEWA FALLS (50)

FG-A FT-A TP: Eve Schroeder 0-1 0-0 0, Beth Steward 0-2 0-0 0, Becca Spaeth 5-13 5-7 15, Danielle Borneman 1-3 1-2 3, Sunny Idso 0-1 0-0 0, Stephanie Hayes 2-3 0-0 5, Jolyne Burdick 0-4 3-4 3, Tina Balsiger 2-9 1-2 5, Angie Ott 6-12 3-4 15, Jessica Johnholtz 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 18-50 12-19 50.

EAU CLAIRE NORTH (52)

Kricket Whyte 0-3 3-4 3, Beth Hoenisch 0-0 0-0 0, Lindsey Rongstad 0-2 2-2 2, Scooter Aspen 0-1 0--0 0, Rachel Evjen 2-9 2-4 7, Erika Reber 0-0 0-0 0, Nicki Robinson 0-6 1-1 2, Larissa Parr 3-4 0-0 6, Bridget Aspen 0-2 2-2 2, Kristi Gehring 4-14 0-0 9, Chandra Johnson 9-19 4-9 22. Totals 18-60 14-23 52.

Eau Claire North 16 7 11 15 3 -- 52

3-point goals: Chippewa Falls 2-7 (Hayes 1-2, Balsiger 1-2, Borneman 0-1, Spaeth 0-2), North 2-2 (Gehring 1-1, Evjen 1-1). Rebounds: Chippewa Falls 32 (Spaeth 6), North 49 (Johnson 14). Fouls: Chippewa Falls 16, North 17. Fouled out: North, Parr. Turnovers: Chippewa Falls 14, North 15.

RECORDS: North 11-3, 16-4; Chippewa Falls 5-9, 8-12.