Ione Westgate Chase, Rochester, provided information about her playing days on the LeCenter girls basketball team. Ione played from 1930-1933. Ione wrote, "Our coach was Mr. B.B. Zimmerman. We also played against Montgomery and big Ione Mladek threw me into the second row (of the bleachers)- because I hung onto the ball and didn't let go until I landed. I got a cracked rib out of that. They just taped me up."

School colors were and are purple and white. The team uniforms were white with short sleeves. The player's purple number was on the back of the shirt. Ione's number was #9. Shorts and socks were the same purple.

Ione's team played LeSueur, Belle Plaine, New Prague and Montgomery.

The girls' and boys' teams traveled to games sitting on hay bales in the back of a covered big farm truck. Ione said, "It was a fun time. Back then, it was the only way to get there. Back in those days, times were a little different."

The first photo is Ione Westgate Chase with her dog (unnamed).

Ione identifies the 1931 team as undefeated. Ione is the fifth player from the left (with an X).

Ione has identified the first names of the players on the 1933 team. Ione is player in the back row, fourth player from the left.

Special story: In 2006, Ione Chase was chosen as "featured woodcarver" for the Rochester Woodcarvers Club's 30th anniversary Woodcarving Show. See some of her work: http://webpages.charter.net/rochcarve.

Photos courtesy of Ione Westgate Chase.