McMinnville Bulldogs prepare for state Games

McMinnville Bulldog Jo Jacobs Robinson looks for some help from her teammate Blanche Cook, as Carol Soucie from the Tennessee Patriots team plays some defense during an exhibition game for the Senior Olympics Monday morning at the Civic Center.

Players JoAn Cantrell, Blanche Cook, JoDean Ward and Jo Robinson ? all of Warren County ? along with Beverly Schwind of Perryburgh and Wanda Shanks of Cookeville teamed to form the ?McMinnville Bulldogs,? ranging in age 70-74.

The Lady Bulldogs performed well against their younger competitors in the exhibition games. In the first game the Tennessee Amigos defeated the Lady Bulldogs 52-14 and in the second game the Lady Bulldogs lost 41-32 to the Tennessee Patriots.

Cantrell, a 1951 graduate of Central High School, said picking up a basketball after an over 50-year layoff wasn?t easy.

?When I first started I couldn?t even get the ball to the basket from the free-throw line,? said Cantrell. ?I couldn?t believe it. I even went home and got a tape measure to make sure it was still the same distance.?

The Tennessee Amigos, ranging in age of 65-69, were from the White County and Cookeville area, while the Tennessee Patriots, which normally compete in the 55-59 age bracket, hailed from Cookeville and Crossville.

The McMinnville Bulldogs have won two gold and two silver medals in district play. At the 2005 National Senior Games, they won the silver medal, after playing seven games in three days.

The three teams will be making their way to the Tennessee Senior Olympic games in Franklin July 14-20.