December in the 1990s always represents a period of transition for the sports aficionados. Football seasons wind down, and the long trail to March Madness and the dreams of a basketball championship begin. Locally, the Sidney High School girls basketball team has been fortunate to experience more than its share of success. Under the tutelage of current coach Maggie Williams alone, the Lady Jackets have posted 290 wins against only 98 losses. The program is notable not only for its success but for its storied tradition as well. Thursday, December 4th marked a very special day in the history of sports at the high school and the girls basketball program in particular. It was 100 years ago on that date that the sport was first introduced to Sidney by the girls at Sidney High. This is the story of that first year and the beginning of a tradition of excellence.

Since no one on that first squad of girls had ever played a game of competitive of basketball, it was with a great degree of trepidation that the newly assembled team faced arch rival Piqua on that day in early December, 1897. Piqua had played a number of games that year, and had apparently fielded a team for some years. Still, the upcoming game generated quite a bit of excitement in the town. The Sidney Daily News reported on November 29th that "Much interest is being shown in the basketball game to be played at the armory between the ladies of Sidney High School and Piqua High School."

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