Back-to-back State Champions ...

The Harpers Ferry Fireflies struck gold for the second consecutive year at the Iowa State Granny Basketball Tournament held in Des Moines during the Iowa Senior Games Friday through Sunday, June 23-25. The Fireflies, coached by Bill Nation and assisted by Ron Steege, both of Harpers Ferry, played five games in two days. Saturday, they played in Pool Play to decide who would get a bye in Sunday’s single elimination tournament. The Fireflies defeated the Monroe Mustangs, 63-39, and then played the Lansing Great Dames and beat them, 46-29, to win their pool and advance into championship bracket play. The State Championship was decided during Sunday’s tournament. Harpers Ferry was given a bye for the first round then won its next three games. They defeated the Cedar Rapids Sizzlers by a score of 55-44, followed by a win over the Lady Redbirds from Carlisle, 52-31, to advance to the tournament’s championship game. The championship game was played against the Late Bloomers from Cedar Rapids, and the Fireflies won by a score of 52-41 to claim their second consecutive Iowa State Granny Basketball Championship. The Fireflies will now be traveling to Norman, OK to play in the National Granny Basketball Tournament July 29. The Fireflies will be competing against teams from Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa at that national tournament.

Pictured above sporting their championship trophy and medals are the members of the now two-time State Champion Harpers Ferry Fireflies. Left to right - Front row: Shirley Elliott, Tina Hendrix, Betty Steege, Kathi Mitchell, Lorie Floyd, Linda Mahr. Back row: Coach Bill Nation, Donna Matti, Margaret Hermeier, Nancy Walleser, Jackie Friederich, Sherry Adney, Karen Wagner, Judy Kelly, Maureen Monroe, Georgia Jones, Assistant Coach Ron Steege. Not pictured: Marybeth Specht and Bonnie Jones. Submitted photo.