Imagine basketball without running, jumping, hovering.
That was what spectators witnessed Saturday night as Granny basketball made a return to California when a local team, of varying ages and genders, took on the Jefferson City Granny Basketball League team in the California Elementary School gymnasium. The California Nutrition Center planned the event, sponsored by Central Bank, to fundraise as it deals with increasing food and labor costs.
Running, jumping and hovering were all prohibited during the six-on-six basketball game, among other special rules. According to the event program, the Granny Basketball League team consists of two guards, two forwards and either one or two centers -- with each player being at least 50 years old. Instead of traditional uniforms, players had to wear bloomer dresses, blouses, knee-high stockings and could not show any bare legs or upper arms. The game consisted of four eight-minute quarters.
The Jefferson City team defeated the California team 32-27, although the lead bounced back and forth throughout the entire game. California's team -- Mario Garcia, Mary Lou Hoellering, Trish Lester, Larry Marriott, Eli Mickels, Kaelyn Mickels, Vickie Schroeder, Doug Todd, Nick Van Dam, Brian Wood, Travis Zimmerman and substitute Carol Mesey, all coached by Dan "Zoot Suit" Mesey -- was down by only one point, 22-21, at halftime.
California Nutrition Center administrator Kim Drummond said the event was brought back after many requests since the first one was held in 2019. Schroeder, who spearheaded planning the event with Carol Mesey, said the center has to keep fundraising to get the $104,000 needed to keep its doors open.
"While we would prefer bigger fundraisers, and we do have some coming up, we just have to keep doing this," Schroeder said regarding doing various community events. "... We just have to do it, there's no choice."
Drummond said the event brought in more than $1,200.
Fun was another element of the fundraiser, Drummond said. It's also the reason behind why many of the granny league players participate in the games.
"It's challenging also, and competitive," said player Jeannie Greer. "I like the competitiveness and the fun part of it."
Granny basketball also offers an opportunity for the players to meet others with something in common. Greer said the team has allowed the women, who didn't know each other before, to form a bond.
"When someone's going through something, we have their back," she said.
Greer -- along with teammates Shirley Talken and Lura McAllister -- have participated in granny basketball since 2011.
The community extends beyond Central Missouri. Talken said the team recently competed in the Granny Basketball League national tournament in Decorah, Iowa, before losing the fourth-place position. According to the Granny Basketball League website, there were also teams from Arizona, California, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas and Wisconsin present at the tournament.
"We meet all these grannies from other states, and learn from them different things," she said.
In addition to the game, the granny basketball cheerleading squad -- Beth "Short Stuff" Schoeneberg, Pauline "Hot Stuff" Forck, Debbie "Over Stuffed" Ferguson and Judy "C.R. Stuff" Scott -- entertained the crowd with pre-game and halftime shows.
The cheerleaders continued entertaining the crowd as a fire alarm caused a brief pause in play during the third quarter. California Fire Department Chief Brad Friedmeyer evacuated the building as a precaution while the cause was determined. After finding the cause and silencing the alarm, the game quickly resumed. California R-I Assistant Superintendent Matt Abernathy said something in a running linen dryer started to smoke, triggering the alarm above the drier.
Despite the unplanned intermission, Talken enjoyed the fundraiser.
"We loved it," she said. "The opponents were funny and kept us laughing, they made it really light-hearted. ... Even though it was competitive, it was fun."
McAllister added it was good to return to benefit a good cause.
"We have fun, they raise money, it's a community activity," she said.
California player Travis Zimmerman said he participated after his father, Robert Zimmerman, asked him. Robert serves as president of the nutrition center's board of directors.
"Community support, interaction in the community, it's a good thing to participate in that and just help out where I can," Travis said. "... It's a good thing to support your local community and the nutrition center."
Schroeder said many at the center, including the board members, assisted in putting the event together. In addition to her scheduling the Granny team, she said Robert Zimmerman helped round up players for California's team, Rochelle Hendrickson further assisted the Granny team and Tim Forck worked with Central Bank to cover insurance and the gymnasium rental fee. She further added that Carol Mesey placed "grannyism" notes with the cookies sold at the concession stand.
Although granny basketball won't be making a return right away, Schroeder said the center has other fundraisers planned for this fall. The California Fraternal Order of Eagles will host a dinner Oct. 14 at the Eagles Club as a fundraiser for the center, which will feature an auction, live music and dancing. She added the center will also have its annual walk-a-thon, which usually happens in early October.
Talken said any woman 60 or older can participate in granny basketball by contacting her at 573-680-4457. Additional information about granny basketball, including the rules, can be found at grannybasketball.com.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — California player Travis Zimmerman, left, tries to block a shot by Granny Basketball League player Cathy Libey on Saturday night in the California Elementary School gymnasium during California Nutrition Center's Granny basketball game fundraiser.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — California coach Dan "Zoot Suit" Mesey, second from left, speaks with Granny Basketball League players and referees Saturday before the coin toss to start the Granny basketball game in the California Elementary School gymnasium. The event was a fundraiser for the California Nutrition Center, who planned the event with sponsorship from Central Bank.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — California's basketball team of varying ages and genders confer Saturday before the game begins in the California Elementary School gymnasium. Pictured, from left, are: Doug Todd, Coach Dan "Zoot Suit" Mesey, Mike Lutz, Nick Van Dam and Travis Zimmerman. The game was a fundraiser for the California Nutrition Center.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Pauline "Hot Stuff" Forck reacts to Beth "Short Stuff" Schoeneberg shouting at her during the Granny cheerleaders' pre-game show Saturday in the California Elementary School gymnasium. The pre-game show preceded a six-on-six Granny basketball game against a California team, of varying ages and genders, and Jefferson City's Granny Basketball League team. The event was a fundraiser for the California Nutrition Center.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Granny cheerleaders Pauline "Hot Stuff" Forck, from left, Beth "Short Stuff" Schoeneberg, Judy "C.R. Stuff" Scott and Debbie "Over Stuffed" Ferguson perform a skit Saturday night in the California Elementary School gymnasium. The cheerleaders provided a pre-game show preceding a six-on-six Granny basketball game held by the California Nutrition Center as a fundraiser.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Despite the high-pitched blaring of fire alarms, Granny cheerleaders Debbie "Over Stuffed" Ferguson, left, and Beth "Short Stuff" Schoeneberg continue to entertain the crowd Saturday night in the California Elementary School gymnasium during the California Nutrition Center's Granny basketball game. A fire alarm, caused by smoke coming from a linen dryer in the school, forced a brief break in play. California Fire Department Chief Brad Friedmeyer evacuated the school while determining the cause.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Jefferson City's Granny Basketball League team pose for a photo Saturday outside California Elementary School after a fire alarm caused a brief unplanned intermission in the California Nutrition Center's Granny basketball game.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Granny basketball player Shirley Talken, left, tries to shoot the ball past Nick Van Dam on Saturday night during the California Nutrition Center's Granny basketball game fundraiser at California Elementary School. Jefferson City's Granny Basketball League team defeated the California team, with local players of various ages and genders, with a final score of 32-27.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Shirley Talken, a player and referee for Jefferson City's Granny Basketball League team, prepares to make a free-throw Saturday night during a Granny basketball game at California Elementary School. The game was held by the California Nutrition Center, and sponsored by Central Bank, as a fundraiser to combat increasing food and labor costs.