Deb Franklin was a tough and talented player at Cedar Rapids Washington in the mid-1970s, back in the days when girls’ basketball was first introduced to the Metro area.

She knows the physical nature of the game and what it takes to become an excellent player. That’s why she has passed along a family tradition of beating on her child, and her daughter loves it.

Don’t get the wrong idea, though. Franklin does drills with her daughter, Danielle, that include swatting at her with foam paddles to give her an idea of what to expect when she’s on the court.

Danielle, Washington’s leading scorer this season as a sophomore, is reaping the benefits of her mother’s teachings.

“I’ve taught her everything my dad taught me,’’ Deb said. “She wants to play at a high level. She’s the one that says, “Let’s go.’"

Danielle said her mother also has a device that straps her right arm around her back so Danielle can improve her left-handed dribbling. That started when Danielle was in the second grade.

“One time she put a stick figure in a garbage can in the driveway so I could learn to drive around it,’’ Danielle said. “We’ve had charts that I worked on for shooting and driving.’’

Deb is a hands-on mother, passing down basketball lessons learned from her father. She has guided Danielle from the grade-school years up to varsity competition.

Why? Because she’s been there, done that.

All-state and a cover girl

Girls’ basketball was introduced to Metro area teams shortly after Title IX was passed in 1972. Washington was the first large school to make the state tournament, going back-to-back years in 1975 and ’76.

Franklin was a starting forward in the 6-on-6 game, earning all-state honors along with teammates Sue Peterson and Chris Gorman. Franklin went on to play one season at William Penn and three at Mount Mercy, at a time when those two schools regularly played and defeated Division I teams.

Washington lost each season at the state tournament to eventual state champion Lake View-Auburn, once in the second round and once in the semifinals. The Warriors placed third in 1976.

Deb has shared her basketball memories with Danielle. Her daughter got a chuckle when reminded of her mom’s appearance on the cover of the Des Moines Sunday Register’s Picture magazine in 1976.

The picture of Deb was shot among the many items girls took to the state tournament at the time … a stuffed dog, electric hair curlers, a blow comb, dresses, shoes, record player, records, magazines and makeup.

That prompted then-Washington Coach Bob Fouts to exclaim, “You’re going to a basketball tournament, not a party!’’

“I know she was good, and they were good,’’ Danielle said. “I’d be very happy to go to the state tournament. She has told me of all the great memories she had.’’

Roots are deep

Danielle Franklin comes from excellent bloodlines beyond her mother’s.

Danielle’s grandparents are Bob and Barb Franklin. Bob was an excellent all-around athlete at Belle Plaine and walked on the Iowa football team for one season. He played slow-pitch softball in Cedar Rapids into his 60s. Barb played basketball at Conroy.

Deb’s other daughter, Britt, played basketball at Washington and now is coaching in Illinois. Deb’s brothers – Dan, John and Scott – all were high school athletes.

Bob and Barb attend Danielle’s games regularly, although Bob has some difficulty watching. He is legally blind but can see shapes at a distance.

“We were over to their house the other day and dad was drawing things up that Danielle should be doing,’’ Deb said. “He can’t see faces but he can see some things.’’

Bob’s father is a part of Iowa Hawkeye lore. Dick Spencer created Herky The Hawk in 1948 and John Franklin later won a statewide contest to name Iowa’s mascot. He came up with the name Herky, short for Hercules, the strongest man in Greek mythology. Franklin won two tickets to see an Iowa football game.

Actually, Franklin isn’t the only Washington player with parents familiar to Warriors basketball. The fathers of Abby Herb (Dennis) and Shanay Gonder (Carl) were standout basketball players at Washington.

Tourney trail awaits

Danielle Franklin has been around the Washington gym for a long time, dreaming of wearing the Warrior uniform.

“Katelin Oney babysat Danielle for three years,’’ Deb said. “She would take her to practices and Danielle would shoot sometimes. She was around Katelin and K.K. Armstrong and Micha Mims. That was what she grew up around.’’

Oney, Armstrong and Mims all are former Washington stars. Oney and Armstrong now play at Northern Iowa, Mims at Mount Mercy.

Washington has a first-round bye in the postseason and will start the trail Saturday, facing the winner of a game between Clinton and North Scott.

The 10th-ranked Warriors are 13-7 and have proven they can play with nearly everyone. Washington lost by four points to No. 1 Southeast Polk, by two to No. 6 Waukee, by three to No. 7 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (Washington won the rematch by 15 points), in overtime to No. 9 Iowa City High and by one to No. 15 Cedar Falls.

“It’s kind of been up and down,’’ Danielle said. “We all need to be more consistent. When we get down, I think we think it’s more than what it is.’’

Washington is in the same regional with Iowa City High, which beat Washington in Iowa City Jan. 23. The game went overtime, with the Little Hawks outscoring Washington 15-6 in the extra period.

Danielle is averaging 13.1 points per game and lately has been the object of the opponent’s defense. That has opened scoring opportunities for others, and players such as Herb, Brooke Foreman, Jazz Royster and Tasha Roundtree have delivered.

Together, the Warriors have a chance to get to the state tournament in Des Moines. That’d be a trip of memories for all of them, especially the Franklins.

(Mark Dukes is former sports editor of the Cedar Rapid Gazette. He is co-host of The Gym Class radio show weekdays from 3-4 p.m. on KGYM-AM 1600 and FM-106.3.)