SIEMER REFLECTS ON TRIP TO NCAA 'BIG DANCE' WITH MIZZOU IN 1994

As "March Madness" sweeps America, one local resident knows first-hand what it feels like to be on one of the 64 select teams to make the NCAA Tournament.

Andrea Siemer, now an orthopedic physical therapist at Southeast Missouri Hospital, is the only Jackson High School product to play in an NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of that 1994 Missouri-Texas Tech tournament game.

During her playing career, Siemer knew something about winning. She was on the first Jackson High School girls basketball team to win district, the first Lady Indian team to make the Final Four and the only University of Missouri-Columbia women's team to make the NCAA Tournament during the 1990s.

The Tigers have not had a winning record since Siemer hung up her no. 21, either. During her time there, the Mizzou women went 19-8, 12-18, 15-11 and 15-12, with Siemer seeing considerable action throughout her career. It was the one losing squad, though, that clawed its way into the NCAAs.

"My sophomore year we had a really talented team, but had a losing record," she recalled. The Tigers, in fact, limped home to a 3-11 Big Eight record before turning the tables in the Big Eight Tournament. "We beat Colorado in the finals. They were ranked number two in the nation. That week it all came together and we all played our best games."

That 79-71 upset of the Buffaloes in the championship game gave the Tigers their first NCAA berth in eight years and their last one to date.

"I don't remember what seed we were, but we drew Texas Tech, who had won the national championship with Cheryl Swoops the year before.

"We played right with them until a couple of minutes before halftime. They went on a run and took about a 10-point lead into the half. We would up losing by about 10 points (actually 75-61), so that one two-minute run made the difference."

Research seems to indicate that no JHS product of either gender has played in the "Big Dance."

"It was a really neat experience," said the 6-1 Siemer, who played a wing guard in college. "I'm glad I can say I went."

Although Siemer, Miss Show Me Basketball in 1992, was never a superstar on the college level, she had a more than respectable career. Three times she made the All-Big Eight Academic team and as a senior was picked for the Academic All-America District VII team. That year she finished with a 9.9 scoring average and over six rebounds per game.

"I finished two points shy of averaging 10 a game," Siemer said ruefully. "Not two PERCENTAGE points, two POINTS! When I found that out I thought of all the layups I'd missed. If I could have just hit one more, I'd have averaged in double figures."

Double figures were no challenge to Siemer as a prep star. A two-time all-stater for the Lady Indians, she helped the team to its first two district titles and its first Final Four appearance. During her senior year the Lady Indians went 25-4, falling to St. Joseph Academy in the semifinals, 41-35. The leading scorers were Siemer and the Angels' sophomore phenom Kristen Folkl. Folkl, of course, went on to All-America honors in two sports at Stanford and to US Olympic team fame in volleyball.

"That state tournament has to be the highlight," Siemer reflected. "I had a lot of fun in high school. All the girls got along. We were friends outside of basketball, as well. I still talk to a lot of the girls today."