University Of Wisconsin Basketball

WBCA All-Star Game: Parting gift for two

Tina Aasen never got the chance to coach her daughter Stephanie at the WIAA state girls basketball tournament.

But for the mother-daughter duo from Orfordville Parkview, closing out their time together at the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 3 All-Star game is the next best thing.

The curtain will fall on this on-court relationship when Tina coaches Stephanie and the South All-Stars against the North All-Stars today at the University of Wisconsin Field House.

"Right now, I'm more on the excited side just to play for her one more time," said Stephanie, who will attend Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, next fall to play basketball and pursue a career in teaching.

Tina, who completed her 13th season as Parkview's varsity coach in March, first introduced Stephanie to the game of basketball when she was just 2 years old.

While Stephanie also gave cheerleading and pom-poms a try, it was basketball that ultimately stuck.

Sixty-four wins, two conference titles and Stephanie passing the 1,000 career points mark highlight the pair's run together.

But one aspect Tina certainly won't miss is having to dispel the notion that she plays favorites with her daughter on the court.

"She probably gets it worse than anybody," said Tina, who helped Parkview win a conference championship as a player in 1989. "I'm harder on her, I expect more from her, because I know what she's capable of. ... But I think that's made her a better player."

And that influence is a big part of the reason why Stephanie wants to get into coaching someday.

Moving on will be tough, according to Tina's husband and Stephanie's father, Troy.

"I don't think it's still really set in," said Troy, a 12-year varsity baseball assistant at Parkview who had the opportunity this season to coach their eldest son Trevor to the school's first conference title since 1993. "I'm sure after Friday it's going to be a little emotional because they're both going to know, ‘That's it.' "

Troy said he and Tina plan on making the 80-minute trek to Dubuque as much as possible in the fall to see Stephanie play for the Crusaders.

"It's going to be hard this fall," Tina said. "I'm somewhat of a control freak as well. ... It'll be a new experience for both of us.

University of Wisconsin Parkside Athletics - Women's Basketball ...

&Ldquo;What these young women have accomplished in the classroom and on the court this year is very remarkable and is a testament to their character and work ethic," said Head Coach Jenny Kenesie.  "Our young ladies set high academic standards for themselves and they demonstrated that throughout the entire year.  I am extremely proud of our team for this tremendous accomplishment.

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