Granny Basketball Showdown
Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/01/2025
3:30 pm
Location
Mother Lode Adventist Junior Academy
Categories
On Sunday, June 1st at 3pm, the Granny Basketball League Inc ® teams will face off against the Columbia State Historic Park Docents known as the ‘Grampy Militia’ for the 3rd year in a row, at 4pm. The first game of the day, at 3pm, will challenge the Columbia Gold Diggers, and the California Poppies teams in an official league game.
Created to provide safe basketball play for women over the age of 50, while supporting local charities, Granny Basketball spans across 10 states and even into Canada, with over 600 players. California now has three teams, The Columbia Gold Diggers, the Oakdale Broncos, and The California Poppies, with more teams in the works.
Celebrating its 20th year, Granny Basketball was founded in 2005 by Barb McPherson Trammell in Iowa (but now a resident of Columbia) as a new and fun way to exercise. The game follows the old rules of 1920s women’s basketball. These rules include playing on three courts, only being allowed to dribble two times, no physical contact and no running or jumping. “Hurrying” is allowed. Players must be 50 years old or older, wear a uniform that looks typical of the 1920s era, with bloomers, middy blouses and knee socks to represent each team’s identity.
In March, the California Poppies and Columbia Gold Diggers faced off in exhibition play at the Stockton Kings. In 2023 & 2024, the California teams participated in the Granny National Tournament, and plan to play again this year in San Antonio Texas in July.
Admission to the games on June 1st is by donation- all proceeds will go to support the teams in attending The Granny National Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas. There will also be a raffle and silent auction as part of the event.
