'You're not allowed to run. But you can hurry': new basketball league in Sudbury for women over 50
55 years ago
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At the age of 56, Jo-Anne Dumont is lacing up her shoes again to play in a new basketball league for women over 50.
When she was in her 20s, Dumont played basketball at a competitive level for the University of Ottawa, and later, Laurentian University in Sudbury. Now she's a member of the Silver Hoop Sisters.
"It's a way to get back to a lot of our philosophies, to get healthy, to stay fit as we age," she said.
Longtime Sudbury basketball coach John Desormeaux helped get the new league off the ground.
"I started with six ladies. Now we're up to 20 ladies," he said.
Many of the participants, Dumont included, were Desormeaux's former players at the high school level.
He said the league is a way for them to stay fit as they age, and socialize with other women who have similar interests.
So the players don't push themselves too hard, and risk injury, they play a modified version of basketball.
"You're not allowed to run. But you can hurry. You can walk fast," Desormeaux said.
The basketball court is also divided in three sections with two players each.
And keeping with the theme, underhanded shots – which are sometimes called "granny shots" – from anywhere on the court are worth three points, instead of two.
Jocelyne Leclaire played for Desormeaux when she was in high school and said she was excited to join the league.
"I have two knee replacements so this is actually excellent for me," she said.
"I never thought at my age and with my situation that I would be playing basketball again."
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