The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-02-11

OO O14C4 VII s 4
Europe. the Grads were officially
awarded the title. Worlds Basket.
ball Champions at the annual
meeting Of the Federation Sportive
Feminine Internationa1e, in Paris
July 20. 1924, title they viii con.
tinue to hold officially until the
women's Olympic games in Brussels
next July.
Returning from their European
conquest, the Grads again took on
& flock OF challengers from Cana.
dian and American cities, with the
same result as before. Not a single
challenging team gave them a rea-
sonabiy close battle. and the ardor
Of even the mogt loyal fans COM
menced to wane.
what's the use?o they asked.
And thus 1t has happened that .
teams greatness has been the cause
Of its own financial undOing. Fear.
ing that the challenge of the Guthrie
team could not be accepted and the
series played in Edmonton without
considerable financial loss. the Grads
volunteered to risk their title In
the far South, with the result all
ready mentioned at the beginning
Of this article.
These games in Guthrie, 1t might
be added in passing, were refereed
by DIR. Forrest Allen. Of Kansas
University, one of the best known
basketball authorities in the States.
Commenting upon the Canada NJ,
DR., Allen said: THE remarkable
physical condition OF the Grads,
their boyishlike tactics on the floor.
and their uncanny shooting, are
unparalleled. in my experience with
girls athletics. This team would
make many male college team
step to beat them. But more than
that. they are young ladies IN the
best sense Of the word. both on
and of the floor. "
Following their victories at
Guthrie, the Grads played at
Fort Worth. Los Angeles and
games with remarkable ease. de-
spite the terrific heat to which
they were unaccustOned.
Probably the following tribute to
their splendid physical and playing
qualities by Paul Larkin, following
the game in Fort Worth. is the best
summary of their latest trip that
ould be given: Those cage fans, !
he writes. who braved the swelter.
ing heat in the Baptist gymnasium
last night saw why J. p. Pages
Commercial Grads of Edmonton
Canada are Olympic champions
rlley saw the best conditioned, fast.
EFT breaking, most accurate passing
and shooting, and altogether best
drilled combination Of girl basketeers
ever to step on q Fort Worth court.
When the final count showed them
leading the all-star Fort Worth ag.
gcegation by q score Of Al to 6,
there could have been no doubt in
the minds of the spectators that
they had Just witnessed the finest
girls basketball team in the world
c1arrpions of the first water. and
Justly entitled to their Olympic
crown"
The Commercial Grads-so called
because every member of the team
lis a graduate of the Edmonton Com.
u,ercial High School--are all work.
ing girls. One of them Is a teacher
in a local public school. while the
others are stenographers or book
keepers in local offices. Every day
finds them at their regular tasks
They play basketball for diversion
bit they make q real study of the
"a me. The personnel of the seac1
changes year by year, but their
record stands unblemiehed.
Covering a period of over ten
years, the girls who have had the
honor of wearing Grad uniforms
have lost but four games. while
since they first won the Canadian
and International titles, they have
never lost a championship game.
Forty-two consecutive championship
battles stand to their credit. They
have covered approximately 10000
miles during the last three years
meeting the best teams In Canada,
the United States and Europe. To.
day they are probably playing bet.
ter basketball than at any previous
time In the history OF the club.
This summer the Grads will again
attend the Olympic games, IL they
can raise sufficient funds; II they
can't, they plan an invasion Of the
Eastern States. Here is glorious
opportunity for those teams who
have prided themselves on their
ability to defeat all-comers-an op
portunity to match their skill
against an honest -to-goodness
world championship organization
Their records says so; DIR. Allen
says SO; DIR. Naismith says so; the
Grads themselves say so, though
they are the most modest and un
assuming collection of champion ath
letes We have ever seen.
But put them on basketball
court and. as one enthusiastic Amer
lean reporter stated in a recent
wrlte.up. What these Canadian
girls can't do with a basketball
simply cant be DONE"
SSopyriSht. 1925. by the Christy Walsh
| Syndicate)
Prep Team Challenges