After 70 years, Mission鈥檚 Ellen Bremner is returning to the BC School Sports Girls Basketball Provincial Championships this weekend.
Bremner captained the Mission High School girls team that claimed the provincial championship in 1955, when she went by her maiden name 鈥� Ellen Klenk.
Mission defeated Nanaimo High School 40-21 in the provincial championship game at Como Lake.
鈥淚t was a big thrill to win, of course. And we were all pretty excited,鈥� Bremner said.
Bremner began playing basketball in the seventh grade and liked it right off the bat. She continued playing through her senior year when Mission was best in the province.
According to a Mission Record story at the time, the squad had an early-round bye and defeated Kamloops 37-30 in the semi-finals.
Sharon Cliffe and Doreen Murphy were named to the provincial all-star team.
Murphy led the Mission attack in the semi-final and final games while Cliffe was also 鈥渨ell up in scoring and unbeatable on defence鈥�.
鈥淭heir big victory was not unexpected since they had lost only once in league and exhibition contests this season,鈥� the Mission Record story at the time reads.
The provincial championship came after Mission placed second in 1954 and third 1953. Bremner said the final culminated years of hard work.
鈥淲e were a team, and we all played well together 鈥� first string and second string,鈥� Bremner said.
The championship-winning squad consisted of Eileen Chesnick, Arlene Syverson, Sharon Cliffe, Pat Reynolds, Florence Rose, Pauline Jaroszuk, Violet Kootnekoff, Leona Rankel, Ellen Klenk, Doreen Mirphy and Elsie Thomas.
Despite being team captain, Bremner said the leadership came from coach George Eacrett.
鈥淲e had some really good coaches in Mission,鈥� Bremner said.
On Saturday (March 1), Bremner will be on hand to hand out the trophy to the victorious team.
She says it鈥檚 been a while since she's been around basketball.
鈥淚'm sure the game is a lot faster today,鈥� she said.
After years away from the game, Bremner could find herself in the gym more often moving forward.
鈥淚'm getting more involved. My granddaughter 鈥� she's nine 鈥� and she has signed up. She's, she's really taken an interest to it,鈥� Bremner said.
