MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Celebrating the end of the regular season in style, members of the Manhattan High School Lady Indians Basketball Team went bowling with their dads Feb. 28 at Little Apple Bowling Lanes.
Traditionally, the Lady Indians are treated to a nice dinner, but this year, the fathers wanted to kick it up a notch to celebrate a great season, according to Steve Crusinberry, father of senior starter Jenna Crusinberry, and retired Army major and chief, Operations and Plans Division, Fort Riley's Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Steve said this may well be the best team in years; Manhattan's road to the state championship began Feb. 29 with a home game against Wichita South East. In addition to winning that game, the Lady Indians also won against arch rival Washburn Rural March 2, clearing the way for them to head to the State Basketball Championship tournament at Wichita State University's Koch Arena March 7 to 10.
Led by longtime coach Scott Mall, this year's squad won the Centennial League Championship without a loss, ultimately finishing the regular season with 17 wins and two losses. Eleven of the 30 players on the roster and three of the varsity squads five starters have ties to the military and Fort Riley.
Darby Price, sophomore starter, is the daughter of Greg and Rhonda Price, both active-duty officers serving with the 1st Infantry Division.
Senior Veronica Pitchford's father, Ray, is a retired Army first sergeant.
Sophomore Hannah Livsey is the daughter of Tim Livsey, retired Army brigadier general and director of Fort Riley's DPTMS.
Varsity sophomore Par McNair is the daughter of Army officer Jim McNair.
Erika Hairgrove's father, Lt. Col. Tom Hairgrove, also serves with Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Inf. Div.
Sophomore Aleise Williams is the daughter of Tommie and Myesha Williams. Tommie is an active-duty sergeant, and Myesha is an Army civilian with Fort Riley Fire and Emergency Services.
Junior varsity sophomore Gabby Edwards is the daughter of Norman and Benita Edwards, dual-military retirees, and her father currently works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Riley.
Forward Mari Jo Massanet, the Indians career leader in rebounds and games played, is the daughter of John and Jodi Massanet, former teachers and coaches.
"We've been playing really well as a team and stepping up when we need to," she said.
Mari Jo, who has been playing basketball since the first grade, is planning to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney for volleyball and track next year. She said the father-daughter bowling classic was really special and topped memories of years past.
"Usually it's just going out to dinner with our dads, but I feel like this is the coolest thing the dads have planned so far," she said.
JV freshman Savannah Roberts' father, Capt. Scott Roberts, is an active-duty Soldier with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. Because of 4th IBCT's rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Scott could not be present at the father-daughter evening, but the other dads worked together to surprise Savannah by coordinating a laptop Skype session at the bowling alley.
"Obviously he didn't get to be here, but I'm glad we found a way (for him) to be here while in the fun. It was really good to talk to him," Savannah beamed.
Freshman Tia Cooke is the daughter of Chris and Jeanette Cooke, retired Army noncommissioned officers and current DA civilians who work for the FES.
Tia, who plays defense, said she loves the game she's been playing since fifth grade and is glad to spend time with her dad. The freshman team also had a victorious season, winning 18 consecutive games.
Senior starting guard Jenna said it has been a good season, and she believes the team will do well at the state playoffs if it does its best and plays together.
"I love the team that I play with. I love playing in front of a big crowd and seeing my friends and Family there," she said.
Her dad, Steve, said spending time together at games is "just the best," and he'll be sad to see it end with Jenna finishing high school.
"It's kind of a sad day for us because this is our last basketball season," Steve said. "We've been playing basketball since she was 4 years old, watching her play, and now it all kind of comes to an end. And yeah, she'll play all kinds of other sports, but this is kind of the pinnacle for us. It's a great day. We're happy, a little bit of sadness, but we really just look forward to the next game, watching baby girl go out and do her thing."
This is the first time in 21 years that Manhattan has made it to the state tournament.
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