Joey Payeur
The anguish of coming within two points of making history became fuel for a valiant crew that was small in number but large in heart.
Just 12 months later, that anguish became exhilaration–and history became reality.
The 1980 Muskie senior girls’ basketball team, coached by Bob Barron, rode just a six-player squad to a season for the ages and a permanent place in the annals of Fort Frances athletic greatness.
The black-and-gold went undefeated in league play to win their second-straight NorWOSSA title over the Dryden Eagles.
But the Muskies weren’t finished there, moving on to earn the school’s first-ever NWOSSAA crown by downing Terrace Bay 42-36 at Fort High..
That was after Terrace Bay had escaped with a 43-41 victory the previous year over the Muskies in the NWOSSAA final.
The heroic half-dozen included Kathy Kolynchuk (now McConnachie), Laurie Pearson (Moxham), Jean Bujold, Lori Gustafson (Medhurst), Tracy Cameron (Roach), and Marigold Bishop.
“The advantage we had was we ran a really super fast-break style,” Bujold recalled.
“We often outhustled our opponents and we were really skilled at the full-court press.”
Bujold remembered how Barron had to get creative with his practice sessions due to his minimal roster.
“Mr. Barron would pull chairs out and we would use the chairs as opposition players,” she chuckled.
Bujold, Moxham, and Kolynchuk had an extra weapon that came in handy after being selected the previous year to the regional team that went to St. Catharines to play in the all-Ontario championships.
“We had our eyes opened seeing the level of competition that exists outside this region,” noted Bujold, who still has her team jacket from that memorable season.
“I can put it on, I just can’t do the buttons up now,” she laughed.
Moxham had glowing recollections of her time under Barron’s tutelage.
“Mr. Barron was encouraging and knowledgeable about the game; he taught me how to play the game,” she lauded.
“He was also kind and patient and cared about you.
“I had never played basketball before [but] because I was tall, he thought that I would be a good addition to his team,” Moxham added.
“I decided to join the Muskies in Grade 11, and my job was to rebound and throw long passes to Jean or Kathy for a lay-up.
“We had a small team but we were very effective,” she stressed.
“Back then, 5’11” was tall.”
Moxham went on to play centre at the University of Manitoba for three years.
“If Mr. Barron had not insisted that I play, I would have never learned the game or gone on to university to play,” she conceded.
“Playing on a sports team is very rewarding,” Moxham added. “You learn about commitment and hard work.
“You make lifelong friends and it is fun to talk about the good old days.”
The team is being inducted into the Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame this year and Bujold is very much looking forward to the ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 12 at La Place Rendez-Vous.
“It’s going to be a really fun evening,” she enthused.
“It gives us all a chance to catch up with teammates and friends from back in the day and to reminisce.”
Editor’s note: This is the second of a series of articles profiling each of this year’s inductees to the Fort Frances Sports Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the second induction ceremony on Aug. 12 cost $35, which can be purchase by contacting Barb or Terry Ogden at 274-5195 or via e-mail at missdaisymae@shaw.ca
