In March of 1937, the junior girls’ basketball team from the Midland High School won the Central Ontario Secondary School Association Championship. Ladies basketball in the 1930s had different rules with six players on the court, three forwards and three defence. The court was divided into three sections; only the forwards were able score and they could only play on the forward two thirds of the court, while the guards defended the back two thirds. The dribbling and passing rule also differed from today’s game. The Midland team was undefeated in regular seasons play and for the Georgian Bay District Championship played Collingwood in a home and home series. The first game was played in Collingwood and Midland won handily with a 48 to 12 score. Determined to win the championship at home, they handed the visitors a second defeat with a score of 30 to 20. Their prize was the inaugural Girls Junior Inter-Collegiate Basketball Trophy for what would be the annual completion in the Georgian Bay District. This new trophy was purchased and presented by J.J. Robbins, the long serving principal of the Midland High School.
After winning their district, the team went on to play the Niagara District for the Central Ontario Secondary School Association Championship in Toronto. On the Friday night they played a team from Welland and soundly beat them by a 26 point spread. The final game was the next day and
they played against the team powerhouse from Trenton, the provincial champs in the previous five seasons. The Midland girls were determined to win their first COSSA crown. By the end of the first half, Midland was up but only by three points and they knew they had come up against a feisty team and that they had their work cut out for them. At the start of the second half Trenton played with renewed energy but at the final buzzer Midland prevailed with a score of 32 to 29 and winning their first provincial championship.
A victory celebration was hosted in their honour at the Barrie Central Institute. The team was coached by Miss Kathleen Pirie and was comprised of Lillian Laidlaw, Edna Madill, Annette Preston, Frances Wright, Jean Robins, Helen Hudson, Margaret Bridges, Marion Noquet, Lois Lloyd, Betty Nicholls, Margaret Brandon and Marion Wilson.
