LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - APRIL 28, 2019 by Lynne Belluscio In 1892, James Naismith had two peach baskets nailed at either end of the gymnasium at the YMCA Training Center at Springfield, Massachusetts, and the first game of what was to become basketball was played. Naismith had designed the game as a winter time ex- ercise that would keep young men in physical condition, but would not risk injuries. Within a short time, women, were playing the new game in their long skirts, bustles, cor- sets, long sleeves and hightop shoes. Women at Smith Col- lege played a version of bas- ketball in 1893. And the game was played at Iowa State Col- lege, Carleton, Mount Holy- oke, Vassar, Bryn Mawr and Wellesley. By 1896, Stanford and the University of Califor- nia at Berkley played an inter- collegiate game. Three years later, the same schools banned intercollegiate play. William Orr, a high school principal in Springfield, Massachusetts, expressed his opposition to in- ter-institutional competition: “Girls should under no cir- cumstances engage in strug- gles for supremacy with teams from other schools. These games are necessarily spectac- ular and sin against the physi- cal as well as the physiological well-being of women.” Meanwhile, in 1896, in Chicago, high school girls began playing basketball. They apparently didn’t abide by William Orr’s advice, and schools competed against each other. Five years later, on No- vember 22, 1901, the girls in LeRoy held a meeting to or- ganize an Athletic Association for the purpose of playing bas- ketball. On Tuesday, Novem- ber 26, girls wishing to join the new association were to meet after school. This meet- ing must have been held in the old LeRoy Academic Institute building (which was located in the Jell-O Gallery parking lot). Miss Williams was cho- sen chairman until the presi- dent should be elected. At the meeting of the Girls Athletic Association, December 3, two teams were formed: Captain: Anna Heamam, Emogene Elyea, Katherine Parkhurst, Ruth Randall, Ol- ive Betts. They chose blue and white for their team col- ors. Pearl King was the cap- tain of the second team and the other members were Ger- trude Elmore, Blanche Dar- ling, Amy Darrow, and Mari- on Rogers. Their colors were red and black. Apparently, the teams would get together and play each other, not other schools, however the enthusi- asm waned and the following article appeared in the school newspaper: “Obituary: Girls Athletic Association. Born November 22, 1901. Died, February 2nd 1902, from a disease peculiar to the major- ity of the high school girls - - lack of interest and executive ability. “ It’s possible that an at- tempt to form another team may have been in 1905. A dat- ed photograph in the Histori- cal Society files shows a girls’ team with a championship ball. A hand written note on the back indicates that it is a LeRoy High school photo, but that doesn’t explain the letter R on their sleeves. Without question, the women of LeRoy High School were playing basketball by 1912. Miss Henderson, the German teacher was the coach. The two forwards were Gene- vieve Cushing and Ida Radley. The Guards were Cora Mac- Dowell and Margaret Mor- ton. Centers, Mabel Malone, Bell Hunt and Anna Kendall. The substitutes were Delores Carolen, Effie Bannister, and Agnes Gleason. They played four games. They won 4 to 3 against the Batavia YWCA and lost 5 to 4 against Perry. They also lost 15 to 4 against the Batavia YWCA and lost to Dansville 1 to 2. Their long pantaloons were gathered below the knee. They have rolled up their long sleeves and wear neck scarves. Most of the girls wear head bands to keep their hair back. Certainly, their gym suits gave them a lot more mobility than the long skirt and high necked shirt that their coach is wear- ing. Never the less, the girls of today, would certainly find it difficult to play basketball in those uniforms. The 1912 LeRoy Girls Basketball Team Girls Basketball in LeRoy The 1905 LeRoy Girls Basketball Team