Actually we've traced the sport back to 1911 -
and perhaps it goes back further
It's 110 basketball seasons ago at Bluffton High School. Here's the BHS girls' basketball team junior varsity for that school year. That's what we'd call them today. In 1914 they were the sophomore team, as indicated by the "Soph 1916" on the basketball.
Girls in this team graduated in 1916, as this team photo was taken during the 1913-14 season.
Team members, from left are:
Faery Huber Adams
Linda DeWitt Sampson
Florence Lambert Nusbaum
Marie Lahr Stucki
Estelle Lugibihl Wollman
Lillian Woods McConaughey
Claribel Owens
How long ago was girls' basketball a sport in Bluffton. We know a team existed as early as the 1909-10 season. From the April 21, 1910, Bluffton News comes this story:
The Bluffton girls basket ball (sic) team will play an open game with the Woman’s Club basketball team at Lima.
Those expecting to play including the substitutes are:
Ruth Stauffer
Minnie Miller
Nellie Kauffman
Elva Moser
Nettie Moser
Corinne Kimmel
Louella Geiger
Martha Brandenburg
Reigh Brandenburg
And, this story from the Feb. 2, 1911, Bluffton News:
Bluffton’s lady basketball stars lost to Lima girls in a game at Lima. The floor had been previously waxed for dancing and the Bluffton girls were at a disadvantage. (Note the hometown excuse for the loss, a waxed floor.)
Playing for Bluffton were:
Martha Brandenburg
Reigh Brandenburg
Salva Steiner
Ruth Stauffer
Minnie Mueller
Nellie Kauffman and
Louella Geiger
As a note of interest, Reigh Brandenburg eventually became the girls’ basketball coach.
Click here to view the sophomore team of 1911 posted previously.
Enlargements of the BHS sophomore team of 1914.
