THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024, IOWA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

 THURDAY, APRIL4, 2024 IOWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

I grew up in Iowa.  I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, the second largest city in Iowa (after Des Moines).   It was a different world then.  I have written that I walked about three blocks after morning kindergarten to catch a city bus to downtown Cedar Rapids - where my mother ran the Dixie Candy Shop.

It was under 30 miles to drive to Iowa City - home of the University of Iowa.  As a kid, Iowa sports were the rage on the local television channels.  In particular, Iowa Men’s basketball was big.  I’d listen to the radio broadcasts of the Iowa games.  My neighbor and I made up a dice game where rollling a five or six would be a basket, a one or two wojuld be a basket for the opposing team, and three a turnover (by Iowa), and four a turnover by the other team.

My high school played great (boys) basketball.   I’m not sure we had any womens sports. The pep band played for a lot of the games.  I’d walk to school, get my tuba from the band room, and take my place in the pep band.  (I also directed the pep band from time to time - actually an easier job as I didn’t have to carry the Sousaphone!!!

One of the big-time events in Iowa was the Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament.  It was televised and drew a great audience.  The smaller towns generally had great teams (and team nicknames).

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/2013/07/11/i-was-just-thinking-some/24393305007/

Some of the nicknames were Everly Cattlefeeders, Elkhart Echos, Guthrie Center Tigerettes (the boy's teams were the Tigers), the Fort Madison Bloodhounds (there is a state prison there), Storm Lake Tornadoes, and Garnavillo Candy Kids. 

This was six-on-six girls' basketball - the same as Granny Basketball plays today - 2 forwards (and the only ones that could score), 2 centers, and 2 guards.  

Maybe some of the concept of interesting team names has carried over to Granny Basketball.  The Georgetown team is the Fire Ants, Round Rock is the Rockettes, Waco is the Six Shooters, Conroe is the Texas Two-Step, and (harking back to the Everly Cattlefeeders) the Fort Worth granny basketball team is the Cowtown Heiffers. 

*****

There is a new star in Iowa Girls / Women’s Basketball - Caitlin Clark.  Caitlin is leading the University of Iowa Hawkeyes into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four this weekend.  Caitlin has been the NCAA women’s basketball player of the year for the past two years.  She holds the record for most points scored by a male or female NCAA Division I player.  She has numerous other records and honors.

She wasn’t an Everly Cattlefeeder; she was a West Des Moine Dowling Maroon high school player.(There aren’t too many “Maroon” team nicknames.)  She is an amazing player.  She has indicated that she will play in the WNBA next year. (Women’s National Basketball Association).  In addition, to playing and scoring - she is helping the media.  Record television numbers have been growing for her games.  The game that she beat the long standing record for most points (previously held by Pistol Pete Marovich) was a sellout with tickets going for up to $1,000 for a women’s college basketball game.  During Clark's final season at Iowa, games featuring her became the most-viewed women's basketball games of all time on six different TV networks.  

Yes, I’ll be watching on Friday night as Iowa plays UConn (University of Connecticut - a perennial women’s basketball powerhouse) at 8:30 (Central Time) to see if Caitlin Clark can wrap up her senior year with a national championship!!

Yes, LOVE WINS

Yes, LOVE TRANSFORMS

And, Yes, I am Karen Anne White, retired professor,

The Iowa Corn Song:

We’re from I-O-way, I-O-way.
State of all the land,
Joy on ev-‘ry hand.
We’re from I-O-way, I-O-way.
That’s where the tall corn grows