Newspapers: Avis Endersby, 100, Honored by Redside Fans 75 Years Later. The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earline Wasser April 2003 ********************************************************************************* Faithful Redside Honored Avis Endersby, 100, Honored by Redside Fans 75 Years Later. The Dalles Chronicle February 27, 2003. (Text Only) Photo: The 2003 South Wasco County girls basketball team poses with Avis Endersby in honor of her faithful support and 75 years since she played hoops for the Redsides. Pictured in front row, from left: Jillian Bender, Avis Endersby and Georgia Smith; (second row) Abby Warnock, Angela Beltran, Mattea Miller, Cassi Warnock, Avis' great-granddaughter Malori Ambrose, Amanda Palmquist, Mandy Hutcherson, (third row) Corrie Lemon, Jenny Thompson, Christi LeMieux, Carolyn Ewing, Megan Rinearson, Crystal Kelly, Katie Pitner, Bobbie Kopp and (back row) coaches Vince Drago, Theresa Ewing and Tome Rinearson. Photo: The 1928 Maupin High girls basketball team, with Avis (Crabtree) Endersby front and center - in front of basketball - poses for a team photo on the school's steps. Endersby is the sole survivor of those in the picture. MAUPIN - Three quarters of a century later, Avis Endersby is getting her due. The 100-yea-old woman was honored recently by the South Wasco County Redsides' girls basketball team during senior parent recognition night in early February - for her own "senior" status as a basketball player 75 years ago on the Redsides' squad. The hoop team honored her with roses, a photo memorial and a tribute read in her honor: "Avis was born July 27, 1912 to Roy and Violet Miller Crabtree at the home of her aunt on Juniper Flat (Oregon). After attending grade school at Victor (Oregon) School she played basketball for Maupin (Oregon) High School for three years and for Wapinitia (Oregon) High School one year. At Wapinitia, there was no gym so they had to play outside." Fans responded with a lengthy, loud standing ovation. For Endersby, it doesn't seem to matter which sport the Redsides engage in, she's surely there to lend her support. In fact, some years back she suffered health problems and after eight days in a coma, she woke up and her first words were: "Did I miss the game?" Her family says her mail goal in life is not to miss a ball game. In 1926, girls' basketball had many different rules than today. For instance, the court was divided into thirds and players couldn't cross over into another third. As a 5-foot-8 center, Endersby played the middle third of the court. Five teammates joined her on the court. And, substitutes were allowed, but the players couldn't re-enter after being subbed out. Only two timeouts were allowed, at two minutes each. Four quarters were played, with two minutes between each, but no coaching allowed during the break. The halftime break was 10 minutes, just like it is today. Missed free throws weren't a live ball. A player could only take two dribbles before passing or shooting. Field goals only counted as one point. In addition, a tied game was allowed to stand to minimize the emphasis on winning, said Endersby. "There wer rules for everything!" Through the years, she's watched her own kids as well as her grandkids and now great-grandchildren play for the Redsides. One great-granddaughter, Malori Ambrose, currently plays for the Redsides' basketball team, while three great-grandsons, Michael Burgett, Aaron and Joey Dove, all play on the junior high team. An it's a sure bet she's ready to watch them all perform next basketball season, too.