1913 girls’ basketball team ahead of its time
Dec. 5, 1979
by Joe Peterson
Nobody had heard of Title IX in 1913, yet bloomer-clad Issaquah High School young women shared double-header billings with their male counterparts.
“We were ahead of our times, quite daring, but we were admired and envied by our classmates,” remembers Minnie Wilson Schomber, the sole IHS graduate of 1914.
Mrs. Schomber is quick to point out that things were entirely different in those days.
“I played many a game with blood streaming down my face from my nose,” Minnie notes with a laugh; “You see we had only one substitute player!”
A total turnout of six young women didn’t leave much room for injuries. In fact, it made practice downright impossible. Much to the consternation of the male squad, practice consisted of scrimmages against the boys’ five. “They resented it and made us play boys’ rules,” Mrs. Schomber said. “We got roughed-up plenty!”
“Boys’ rules” meant open court activity while young women were expected to play a more restricted brand of ball. The floor was divided into three distinct sections with the two opposing forwards in one, the centers in another, and the guards in the remaining zone. A foul was called by the volunteer official if anyone stepped out of their floor space.
This system was modified in 1915 allowing two centers-a “side center” who could be passed to-and a “jumping center.”
If the zone system wasn’t enough of a handicap, the required heavy-pleated, blue serge bloomers made the 40 minutes of play uncomfortable at best.
“There was no such thing as shorts for girls in those days and of course you couldn’t show your bare legs,” Mrs. Schomber explains.
Bloomers, long black stockings, duck-white middy blouses, and black ties were the offical uniform well into the ’20s. Black sateen (cotton) eventually replaced the heavy serge as material for bloomers, however, providing some relief.
If you think girls’ basketball is tough now, you should try playing in these outfits that the 1921 team wore.
Games were well-attended; Saturday night doubleheaders with a “ladies first” policy followed on the hardwood floor of the Masonic Hall. Scoring was low by today’s standards but so were the ceilings.
Avoiding the second-floor roof and stage area with shots was always a challenge in a facility designed as a dance hall. Future sites included the Issaquah Theatre and upstairs at the Grange Hall in the 1920s. Ideal conditions they weren’t. Ten baskets usually won a game.
Without a gym for practice an old rock-laden field was used until a roofed log structure was constructed by the boys’ team on the present site of Issaquah Junior High. After school, which lasted until 4 p.m., practice for competition against Bothell, North Bend, Redmond, and Preston began in earnest.
Getting to Bothell and back proved to be as challenging as play on the court. A typical schedule included catching the 8 a.m. Saturday train for Woodinville, where a transfer would result in a noon arrival in Bothell.
Greeted at the train by their opponents, the teams would enjoy a lunch party followed by dinner at the homes of their foes. After the evening game, the Issaquah cagers would spend the night in their hosts’ homes and arrived home Sunday evening at 7. A Stanley Steamer stage provided faster alternative transportation but at a prohibitive cost.
It was clearly worth all the effort though, for status was bestowed on those who wore the royal blue and gold IHS letters on their shaker knit sweaters. While the boys’ letters were sewn on, the girls’ letters consisted of armbands that tied and usually needed to be pinned.
If longevity is any index to time well spent, tnen more than letters await today’s women basketball players, for four of the original six 1913 team members are celebrating birthdays in their ’80′s this year-not a bad record for any ball club!
