Harpers Ferry Fireflies shine bright for third straight National Championship...

Saturday, July 14, the Harper Ferry Fireflies won the gold medal at the Granny Basketball League National Tournament held in Norman, OK, claiming their third consecutive National Championship. The Fireflies, coached by Bill Nation of Harpers Ferry, first swept through their five-team pool with wins of 48-23 over the Passing Fancies out of Missouri, 35-15 over the Fire Ants from Texas, 43-20 over the Grayhawkers from Kansas and 47-24 over the Oklahoma Twisters. Winning that Pool B championship, the Fireflies were matched up with the tournament’s Pool A champions, the Louisiana Crushers, in the National Championship game, which they also won with relative ease, 56-35, to claim their third consecutive National Championship. One other team from Iowa, the Classic Roadrunners, also played in the tournament, finishing third overall with a final win over the Oklahoma Twisters. Other teams in the 10-team National Tournament field included the Gray Tornadoes from Kansas, the Old Glories from Texas and the Virginia Gracious Grannies. The Fireflies wrapped up their 2018 competition season with a record of 17-2 this year.

Pictured above, left to right, are team members gathered at the National Tournament in Norman, OK: Front row - Bonnie Jones, Tina Hendrix, Shirley Elliott, Betty Steege, Georgia Jones. Back row: Coach Bill Nation, Margaret Hermeier, Donna Matti, Jackie Friederich, Judy Kelly, Karen Wagner, Sherry Adney, Maureen Monroe. Submitted photo.