As the Lakewood Elementary Stallions jog onto the opponents’ court, a hush falls over the spectators as all eyes in the gym watch the team warm up.
They’re not watching the spectacular lay-ups or the basketballs tossed from the free-throw line. They are focusing on the two girls on the court sporting Lakewood uniforms.
Fifth-grade students Danielle Hardie and Logan Garrett are the first girls in the history of the coed league to play on the team.
Though try-outs have always been open to boys and girls and each try-out has always included girls, none have ever made it before.
“We have a lot of good players who try out,” says Stallions Coach Bob Townshend. “But where the other girls lacked the aggressiveness, Danielle and Logan were right there with the boys.”
Out of 84 students who tried out, 15 were selected and 10 are suited up for each game, both girls always among the 10.
“I have always been taught that anything the boys can do, I can do too. I wasn’t intimidated at all,” says Danielle, known as Dani to her friends. The mothers of the two, however, have a different story.
“I was so worried the first day they played that I couldn’t stay in the gym,” says Logan’s mother, Judy. “They both held their own very well, though.”
When Coach Townshend selected the girls, he knew problems of jealousy and competition could arise. But, he says, the girls fell right into place and have not had any problems.
Says Stallion player Jeff Boes: “They are both just as good as the boys on the team. We all really like having them on the team.”
Both girls say they hope the precedent they are setting is one that will be noticed by other girls as an example of what can be done.
Meanwhile, the defending Division champions are enjoying an undefeated record. Both girls also play for an undefeated girls team in the Spring Valley Girls’ League.
Though Logan says she would like to play professional basketball someday, she is not enthusiastic about the WNBA.
“I always thought it would be cool for women to play in the NBA, but I guess that’s not going to happen now,” she says.
