December 26, 2020
By Fred Liggett
[email protected]
The night of Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 will be long remembered by many who are close to the Lee’s Summit North Girls basketball program. The evening was senior night as the program honored the three seniors on this year’s team. On the court the current Broncos beat rival Lee’s Summit 45-19. Once the game ended the announcement was made that the win was the 400th for Head Coach Tricia Lillygren at LS North.
“Unbelievable,” says Coach Tricia Lillygren on the reaction of the accomplishment. Lillygren, now in her 26th year at LS North, states she “really pictures all the kids” who played a part in the 400 victories. Everyone had a hand in it according to coach Lillyren “Think of my coaching family from the C team on up.”
Hearing from many former players and fellow coaches after 400 wins compared to 100 or 200? Lillygren admits, “Not as much this time, we are living in pandemic times”. To Lillygren it’s super significant on relationships like the one she has with assistant coach Sean Donovan.
All the support at LS North has played a role as well according to Coach Lillygren “from Admin to cheerleaders to the band as we try to offer a full high school experience.” “We’re always looking to better school spirit”
Right now the Broncos are, “hoping to have more games in addition to more wins.” The team was on for 10 days, now in the midst of being off for two weeks. Having practices more often Coach Lillygren feels, “helps the team build day to day and on consistency.” The current group of Broncos who gave coach her 400th victory is a “really good group” according to Coach Lillygren.
This year’s group has three seniors who have played all four years. Coach Lillygren adds “it’s really nice” to have the Bennett twins on the team. The Bennett sisters, Elauni and Emani, are a pair of sophomores on the 2020-21 team. Up next for the Broncos is a home game on Monday, Jan. 4 against Liberty. On that night Coach Lillygren and the Broncos will work to add some more wins to the current total of 400.
