| W. RD 1 (ALTA): Edmonton Bissell d’d Edmonton Starlets 27-32; 25-14 (Total: 52-46) W. RD 1 (SASK): Regina Westons Vits d’d Moose Jaw Johnstone Dairy Maids 30-33; 25-7 (Total: 55-40) W. RD 2 (ALTA): Edmonton Y Aces d’d Edmonton Bissell 27-33; 30-22 (Total: 57-55) W: RD 2 (Sask): Regina Westons Vits d’d Saskatoon Ramblers 43-31; 29-37 (Total: 72-68) W. SEMI (Man): Winnipeg Altomahs d’d Manitoba Commercial College 20-16; 23-24; 31-19; 27-23 (3g-1) CANADIAN TITLE: Vancouver Hedlunds d’d Winnipeg Altomahs 42-27; 41-26; 40-30 (3g-0) |
Edmonton Grads coach J Percy Page chose as his all-time Grads team: Forwards—Margaret MacBurney, Gladys Fry; centre—Noel MacDonald; guards—Connie Smith, Etta Dawn.
For most of the war era, the senior women’s title was essentially kept alive by Vancouver and Manitoba sponsorship. In 1944, there are no Alberta or Saskatchewan entries, although both provinces held playoffs, none believed they were competitive enough to challenge for a national title.
In the East, Toronto Hope wins the Ontario title, while the Montreal Olympics win the Quebec title. They do not play off and do not enter the national playoffs.
Eastern teams refused to play for the national crown because they think it unladylike to play Western squads, which play by men’s rules, the five-man game, as opposed to six players, with three in the offensive frontcourt and three in the defensive backcourt.
No Alberta squad appears to have entered the interprovincial playoffs.
In the Edmonton city semis, the Edmonton Bissell defeated the Edmonton Starlets 32-27; 25-14 (Total: 52-46). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Starlets dispatched Bissell 32-27 as Dot Bolander scored 8, Connie Strachan 8, Callaway 5, Frazer 4, Limming 3, Pringle 3 and Duke 2, while Foster was scoreless. Dot Myers led Bissell with 10. Bella Riddle added 6, Quilley 4, Gwen Riddle 2, Jean Chandler 2, Skitch 2 and Dot Chandler 1, while Schwartz was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Bissell took the series with a 25-14 win as Gwen Riddle scored 9, Bella Riddle 8, Jean Chandler 4, Dot Quilley 2 and Dot Myers 2, while Dot Chandler, Edith Skitch and Marie Schwartz were scoreless. Dot Bolander led the Starlets with 6. May Pringle added 2, Connie Strachan 2, Frances Frazer 2, Evelyn McCormick 1 and Gladys Limming 1, while Phoebe Foster, Denize Callaway and Helen Eckert were scoreless.
In the Edmonton city finals, the Edmonton Y Aces defeated Edmonton Bissell 27-33; 30-22; 40-22 (2g-1)
…………………………………………………… In game one, Bissell dispatched the Aces 33-27 as Dot Myers scored 18, Jean Chandler 7, Bella Riddle 6 and Marie Schwartz 2, while Gwen Riddle, Dot Chandler, Dot Quilley and Edith Skitch were scoreless. Ava Forbes led the Aces with 8. Hilda Hughes added 6, Irene McKillop 5, Ethel Yule 4, Vicky Panos 2 and Leona Miller 2. …………………………………………………… In game two, the Aces evened the series with a 30-22 win as Hilda Hughes scored 10, Ada Forbes 6, Irene MacKillop 6, Leona Miller 4 and Ethel Yule 4, while Vicki Panos was scoreless. Bella Riddle led Bissell with 8. Dot Myers added 6, Jean Chandler 4 and Dot Quilley 4, while Dot Chandler, Gwen Riddle, Edith Skitch and Marie Schwartz were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game three, the Aces took the series with a 40-20 win as Hilda Hughes scored 14, Ada Forbes 10, Leona Miller 8, Edith Yule 6 and Irene MacKillop 2, while Vicky Panos was scoreless. Jean Chandler led Bissell with 6. Dot Myers added 6, Dot Chandler 4, Gwen Riddle 2, Dot Quilley 2 and Bella Riddle 2, while Edith Skitch and Marie Schwartz were scoreless.
In the Manitoba finals and national semis, the Winnipeg Altomahs defeated Winnipeg Macdonald Commercial College 20-16; 23-24; 31-19; 27-23 (3g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Altomahs prevailed 20-16 as Mattie Krescy scored 4, Eleanor Wallins 4, Nan Stiles 3, Harwood 3, Isabel Duncan 2, Matoski 2 and Stella Hawkins 2, while May was scoreless. Mona Watson led Commercial College with 8. Sylvia Ferris added 6 and Turner 2, while Fell, McEwen and Cuthbert were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, Macdonald Commercial College nipped the Altomahs 24-23 as Ruth Turner scored 5, Mona Watson 5, Sylvia Ferris 4, Betty McEwen 4, Nelly Fell 4 and Lenore Cuthbert 3. Mattie Krescy led the Altomahs with 9. Stella Hawkins added 6, Matoski 5, Nan Stiles 2, Harwood 2 and Isabel Duncan 1, while Eleanor Wallins and May were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game three, the Altomahs dumped Commercial College 31-19 as Nan Stiles scored 9, Mattie Krescy 7, Eleanor Wallins 7, Duncan 4, Hawkins 3 and Harwood 1, while Matoski was scoreless. Ruth Turner led Commercial College with 6. Ferris added 5, Watson 4, Fell 2, McEwan 1 and Cuthbert 1. …………………………………………………… In game four, the Altomahs took the series with a 27-23 win as Stella Hawkins scored 10, Mattie Krescy 7, Isabel Duncan 4, Audrey Harwood 4 and Eleanor Wallens 2, while Nan Stiles and Julie Maloski were scoreless. The Altomahs (coached by V Peden, manager Mary Phillips) also included Kay May and Dorothy Brook. Sylvia Ferris led Commercial College with 8. Mona Watson added 8, Nellie Fell 4, Cuthbert 2 and McEwen 1, while Turner was scoreless.
In the Saskatchewan semis and south finals, the Regina Westons Vits defeated the Moose Jaw Johnstone Daily Maids 30-33; 25-7 (Total: 55-40). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Dairy Maids prevailed 33-30 as Audrey Mounteer scored 8, Chick Johnstone 8, Gladys Affleck 7, Lil Hindley 4, Emerson 2, Peters 2 and Hagan 2, while Tolley and Holden were scoreless. Theresa Hartman paced the Vits with 8. Dusanko added 6, Rockert 5, Kovack 4, Schreiner 2, Kinsman 2, Horning 2 and Probert 1, while Trerice was scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, the Vits prevailed 25-7 to take the total-point series by 15. Hartman led the Vits with 9. Schreiner added 8 and Rockert 8, while Dusanko, Probert, Kinsman, Horning and Parker were scoreless. Peters led the Dairy Maids with 3. Emerson added 2 and Mounteer 2, while Affleck, Hindley, Johnstone, Hagan, Tolley and Holden were scoreless.
In the Saskatchewan semis and north finals, the Saskatoon Gray Cab Ramblers defeated the Saskatoon Royals 43-26; 36-23 (Total: 79-49). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Ramblers prevailed 43-26 as Jean McLeod scored 14, Bea Tyler 8, Charlotte Early 6, Harris 4, Wilson 4, Audrey Olson 2, Roper 2, Walker 2 and Cole 1, while Barnett was scoreless. Effie Simpson led the Royals with 7. Bea Burniece added 6, Fifi Thiede 6, Helen Creelman 5 and Faithfull 2, while Bozall, Jones, McKay and Fair were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In ame two, the Rambers took the series with a 36-23 win as Charlotte Early scored 11, Jean McLeod 11, Olive Harris 4, Marg Roper 2, Bea Tyler 2 and Thelma Walker 1, while Wilson, June Cole and Barnett were scoreless. The Ramblers (coach Gil Strumm, manager George Nesbitt) also included Audre Olson, Lil Van Haerlem. Bea Burniece led the Royals with 6. Helen Creelman added 6, Ennis Faithfull 5, Boxall 2, Jones 2 and Simpson 2, while McKay, Fair and Thiede were scoreless.
In the Saskatchewan finals, the Regina Westons Vits defeated the Saskatoon Gray Cab Ramblers 43-31; 29-37 (Total: 72-68). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Vits prevailed 43-31 as Betty Schreiner scored 12, Julie Dusanko 9, Theresa Hartman 6, Ellen Rockert 6, Kinsman 5, Anderson 5 and Kovach 2, while Horring was scoreless. McLeod led the Ramblers with 12. Tyler added 9, Early 5, Olsen 2, Roper 2 and Wilson 1, while Walker, Cole and Harris were scoreless. …………………………………………………… In game two, the Ramblers prevailed 37-29 but lost the total-point series by four. Charlotte Early led the Ramblers with 14. Jean McLeod added 7, Marg Roper 7, Bea Tyler 7 and Kay Wilson 2, while Olson, Harris, Walker and Cole were scoreless. Betty Schreiner led the Vits with 11. Ellen Rockert added 7, Julie Dusanko 6, Anderson 2, Kinsman 2 and Hartman 1, while Kovach, Horring and Parker were scoreless.
Afte the finals, Norman Hamilton, manager of the Vits, charged that CABA had “frozen out” his troops from the national playoffs. CABA asserted that Regina couldn’t play the Hedlunds because the Dominion final had already been staged between the Hedlunds and Altomahs. CABA president E.W. Bowering said the Saskatchewan request was received when the Hedlunds were already on the train to Winnipeg for the finals.
In the Canadian championships, the Vancouver Hedlunds (the only senior A team in British Columbia) sweep the Winnipeg Altomahs 42-27; 41-26; 40-30 (3g-0). Heading into the series, Hedlunds coach Bob White told Canadian Press that “I’m certain we’ll make three straight (national titles). Altomahs won’t take it lying down but I think our girls will prove too much for them.” Altomahs coach Doris Peden said “they’re too tense and nervous once they get on the floor. They’ll have to get over it before then can make any showing.”
In game one, Vancouver prevailed 42-27 as Joan MacArthur scored 15. Rita Bell added 12, Ruth Wilson 6, Cathie Smith 4, Gwen Beech 3, Faye Burnham 2, while Vera Crowley, Sadie MacDonald and Betty Russell were scoreless. Stiles led Winnipeg with 10. Hawkins added 8, Mattie Krescy 4, Wallins 4, Matoski 2, while Dorothy Brook, Duncan, Harwood and May were scoreless.
In game two, Vancouver won 41-26 as Rita Bell scored 15, Joan MacArthur 12, Ruth Wilson 6, Faye Burnham 5, Cathie Smith 2 and Sadie MacDonald 2, while Gwen Beech, Betty Russell and Vera Crowley were scoreless. Nan Stiles paced the Altomahs with 8. Audrey Harwood added 7, Mattie Krescy 4, Hawkins 4, Wallins 2 and Dorothy Brook 1, while Matoski, May and Duncan were scoreless.
In game three, Vancouver swept the series with a 40-30 victory as Ruth Wilson scored 13, Faye Burnham 9, Joan MacArthur 8, Rita Bell 7, Cathie Smith 2 and Vera Crowley 1, while Gwen Beech, Betty Russell and Sadie MacDonald were scoreless. Dorothy Brook led the Altomahs with 13. Audrey Harwood added 9, Mattie Krescy 4, Wallins 2 and Duncan 2, while Matoski, Nan Stiles, May and Hawkins were scoreless.
The runner-up Winnipeg Altomahs: Nan Stiles; Hawkins; Mattie Krecsy; Wallins; Matoski; Dorothy Brook; Isabel Duncan; Audrey Harwood; May; coach Voris Peden
The champion Vancouver Hedlunds: Rita Panasis-Bell; Ruth Wilson; Gwen Beech; Faye Burnham; Cathie Smith; Vera Crowley; Betty Russell; Sadie MacDonald; Joan MacArthur; coach Bob White