1998-99 GIRL'S BASKETBALL RECAPS

April 25, 1999  

EAU CLAIRE NORTH GIRLS BASKETBALL 1998-99

The 1998-99 Eau Claire North girls basketball team achieved tremendous success during this past season. They finished the year with an outstanding 18-5 overall record. They placed second in the extremely competitive Big Rivers Conference with an 11-3 record. The Husky girls ended the season with a 2-1 record in tournament play. This was a team that halted Hudson's 49 game BRC winning streak with a stunning 58-50 victory at Hudson's own venue.

They swiped the Semi-Final Regional Championship crown away from crosstown rival Eau Claire Memorial by defeating them 55-35 and then dethroned the 1997-98 State Champion Hudson Raiders in a fierce 39-35 battle. Their only post season loss came at the hands of the Menomonie Indians in the Sectional Semi-Final 40-56 in an atypical game that saw the Huskies pour out their heart and soul trying to find a solution to an off-night offensively.

The North squad played a challenging non-conference schedule that included such perennial state respected powers as Hartland Arrowhead, Milwaukee DSHA, LaCrosse Logan, LaCrosse Central, Superior and Tomah. The Huskies sported a nifty 5-1 record versus their non-conference opponents.

Five seniors spearheaded the Husky attack. They were; Bridget Aspen, Rachel Evjen, Kristi Gehring, Chandra Johnson and Erika Reber. All five were instrumental in orchestrating the most wins that the Huskies have ever experienced during the past twelve years. The underclassmen also played an integral part in the Husky success. Rounding out this year's squad were; juniors, Scooter Aspen, Beth Hoenisch, Nicki Robinson; and sophomores, Larissa Parr, Lindsey Rongstad and Kricket Whyte. These eleven competitors provided the Husky fans with tremendous entertainment and showed that they could compete with just about any team in the state.

Head Coach Chico La Barbera praised this year's squad, "This is the best and most unique team that I have ever coached in my twelve years here. Day after day they met the challenges of practice with a determination that would be surpassed by few. They accepted their individual roles with an unselfish zest that was remarkable. This 1998-99 squad was a 'TEAM' in the purest sense of the word. I will miss them dearly! They provided some very special memories that will never be replicated."