I played at state: Eric Dale

Eric Dale has seen success in Wauwatosa East basketball from multiple angles. In 1989, he was a junior on the Red Raiders' state championship team, winning the school's first crown since 1948 with a 49-48 win over Eau Claire North. In 2008, he was an assistant coach under Tim Arndorfer when Tosa East won a thrilling state championship game over Madison Memorial in overtime, 58-56. He's also the school's head boys soccer coach.

How did the tournament in 1989 look differently than it does today? Obviously, the venue was different; had you been to the UW-Fieldhouse before and what were your recollections of the building itself?

The UW Fieldhouse was the absolute best venue for the state tournament. I've been going to the tournament every year since I was in first grade, and it had always been a dream to play in that tournament some day. The fans were right on top of the court, and it would get tremendously loud during close games. The Kohl Center is a beautiful facility, but I would be one of the first people to support the tournament going back to the Fieldhouse. It could not be beat.

What were the circumstances in the close finish of the 1989 title game? How did your team match up with Eau Claire North?

We were an incredibly balanced team. Any starter and at least three or four deep off the bench were capable of scoring points in bunches. We were a difficult team to guard, and our grittiness was a trademark. I can recall vividly how competitive practices were. There were days when the second teamers would give the first team all they could handle. I guess that explains why eight or nine guys on that team played college or junior college basketball after graduating. In terms of the championship game, I remember us being up by eight or six with a little over five minutes to play and North was very big and physical. Todd Stepanek and Jeff Hagman scored on some easy buckets in the paint, and their point guard, Troy White, willed them back into the game in the closing minutes. We missed a few key free throws, but Aric Carpenter did ice it for us. North inbounded the ball with under three seconds to play down by two, and Hagman heaved a bomb from over 70 feet away that actually caromed off the back of the iron. Had it gone in, it would have undoubtedly been the most famous shot in state tournament history.  It also would have been a shot I and my teammates would have never gotten over...

Were you able to share some of your experiences with the 2008 team during the state run? Was it eerie to see the team play Eau Claire North once again (in the state quarterfinal)?

I've always preached to my team that there is nothing quite like playing in the state tournament, and yes, receiving the draw against Eau Claire North in the first game was a bit eerie. Even more crazy, Aric Carpenter, our starting point guard on the 89 team, was an assistant coach to Pat Hammond on the North 08 team.  Carp is now the head coach at Eau Claire North.

In the semifinals of the 1989 tournament, Tosa East beat a high-scoring Racine Horlick, 77-51. What was the key to holding them to such a low point total after they came in averaging 80 points per game? Also, do you think it helped our hurt your cause to see a Sheboygan North team that you had seen earlier in the year when you played in the quarterfinal?

We took Horlick out of their run and press style because we attacked the hoop.  So many teams had buckled to their full-court press and man-to-man high pressure, but we had heady guards and big guys who could attack the rim on the bounce. Mike Dahlquist had the game of his career against Horlick. I think he scored 27 points that game, and a ton of his points were off pull up jumpers, mid range. He also brought down the house a few times with some huge slams. Phil Neal and Carp were unflappable players. They rarely turned the ball over, and were not frazzled by the pressure. It was also nice to have Steve Travis, a big forward, who could bring the ball up against pressure without losing a beat.

Who were some of the standouts on that Tosa East team?

I believe Preston Johnson, a sophomore, was our leading scorer that year.  He was an unbelievably steady three point shooter with great range. Steve Travis and Mike Dahlquist were our next highest scorers. I don't think anyone averaged more than 12 to 13 points per game. Phil Neal and Aric Carpenter were our last two starters at guard. Phil Neal was one of the most charismatic people I've ever met, and Carp was undoubtedly the team leader. At 5-6. he played with so much heart and determination. In the pecking order of the team, I was probably the ninth or tenth man. I didn't get a lot of minutes except in mop up time that season, but I started my senior year and was co-captain alongside Mike Riley, one of my best friends to this day.

Compare playing in a state tournament and coaching a team in it. Is it a similar experience in terms of nerves?

I think it is actually more nerve racking coaching than playing. When you're young and "dumb," you tend to play loose and with no regrets. As a coach, you seem to have so much on your mind during the game. Yes, you can game plan and prepare, but there are so many in game adjustments you have to make that you are thinking all the time. When I played, I didn't think so much as react. I guess that's why I left Coach (James) Rebholz and Coach (George) Haas in charge of thinking for me. It was much easier as a player.

Pictured: The Wauwatosa East bench, including guard Jake Barnett (30) and assistant coach Eric Dale (standing) react as East scores a basket on Feb. 14, 2008.