Teams

1988-89 (Chicago) Marshall High School Girls’ Team

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: (Chicago) Marshall High School

Head Coach:  Dorothy Gaters

Team Record:  33-2  (IHSA Class AA State Champions)

Biography:

This group of young ladies went 33-2 en route to the IHSA Class AA state championship and finished the regular season ranked fifth in the final Associated Press poll. The Lady Commandos were tall and talented with three players over 6 feet (Herlianda Thigpen, Sandra Crockett and Latonya Foster) and two 5-10 swing players (Rita Hale and Kenya Pittman). Foster, affectionately called “Toni,” was the No. 2 student in her senior class and a two-sport athlete. She earned Ms. Basketball in Illinois honors before going to Iowa, where she would become Big Ten Player of the Year and lead the team to the NCAA Final Four as a senior.

In the Class AA Elite Eight, Foster had 64 points, 27 rebounds, 9 steals and 8 blocks and Pittman had 48 points and 17 rebounds as they received all-tournament honors. Foster had 22 points and 9 rebounds and Pittman 16 points in a 48-32 quarterfinal win over Romeoville. Foster, Hale and Pittman scored 15 points apiece in a 53-31 semifinal win over Moline. In the 56-50 overtime win over Winnetka New Trier for the championship, Marshall rallied from a 5-point deficit after three quarters behind Foster (27 points, 9 rebounds), Pittman (17 and 7) and Hale (12 and 6).

Team Members in the Picture:

Photo information not available