And the girls’ basketball team from New Glasgow High School won a provincial championship – coached by Lawrence “Yud” MacKinnon. The 12-member team brought the first-ever girls ‘A’ Headmasters basketball championship (as it was called back then) to Pictou County.
After a very successful regular season, led by star players Willena Borden and Linda Mackie, and a fine sporting cast, they defeated Cape Breton Region St. Anne’s 65-38 in a provincial quarterfinal. Then in a two-game total point series against QEH of Halifax, New Glasgow High School rebounded from a 17-point loss in the first game to win by 20 in the second, advancing to the provincial final against Bridgetown High School.
NGHS won the first game against Bridgetown by seven points, and lost the next one by six in a thrilling final game - that one point difference all they would need to win the Nova Scotia title.
Former sports writer Rick Fraser wrote of their accomplishment in The Evening News 58 years ago.
“… The girls, coached by Lawrence “Yud” MacKinnon, gave an excellent account of themselves and tears of joy were shed following the game Saturday morning, as the players joyfully clung to each other to steady shaky nerves.”
On Twitter: @NGNewsKevin
Sports Replay is a weekly feature looking at Pictou County's sporting past. Information is provided by the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame.
