BENHAM GIRLS of 1932
The girls basketball team of Benham in the 1931-32 season won the Regional Tournament. It was the last year of post season basketball for the girls. The school’s boys basketball team had won the Region just the year before. Both teams used the same coach – J. Milburn Taylor.
To get to the State Tournament the Benham girls defeated Breathitt County 28-16 in the regional. Breathitt had won the District and finished the year at 16-6. Benham next defeated Fleming-Neon 17-10. Neon had won their District and completed the year at 7-8. In the Region’s championship game Benham defeated Black Star who finished up at 12-6.
Benham drew Woodburn who won the State championship in 1931. They also had been State runner up in 1930. It was a tough draw for Benham. Woodburn still had some players back. Two had been All State players in 1931 and the team was tough on offense as well as defense.
A first quarter score of 15-1 showed both the offense and defense of girls basketball at the time. It was an era with completely different rules, and scores were much lower than what we would see twenty years later.
The halftime score showed a bit more offense from Benham, as the score was 15-4. By the end of the third quarter Benham had played better defense and held Woodburn even as each team scored four points and a score of 19-8.
In the final quarter Woodburn scored 11 and Benham dropped in seven points for a final score of 30-15.
Benham completed their year with a 12-5 record. Woodburn once again went on to be State champions in 1932.
So after beginning play in the 1924-25 year and not having a winning season until the 10-6 record in the 1930-31 year this group of girls went all the way to the State Tournament. Although they fell in the first round it was a great accomplishment in their final season.
The school closed after the 1961 season, merging with Cumberland. Sadly, girls’ postseason play was not revived until the 1974-75 season. So the Benham girls closed it out in March, 1932 with style.
