SLIPPERY ROCK— The Butler Cubs senior women's basketball team is headed to the National Senior Olympic Games — again.

Only this time, it's already beaten the national champion.

The Cubs' 65-and-over team defeated the defending national champion Michigan Spirits, 29-21, during a recent 3-on-3 senior tournament at Slippery Rock Middle School.

Pearl Meade and Karen Adams scored 12 points each for Butler and point guard Carol McCollough had 10 assists.

"That team won nationals at Louisville last year,"Chicora resident McCollough said. "One of their better players was unable to perform because of injury, so that played a factor in our win, I'm sure."

Other players on the Cubs' 65-and-over team include Dorothy Burke and Marilyn Hilliard of Butler, JoAnne Toy of Sarver, Jane Amiotte of Zelienople, Kathy Blair and Bobbie Sichitano.

Two Butler Cubs 50-and-over teams qualified for nationals, which take place Aug. 1 ti 15, 2009, at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

Players on those teams include high scorer Tina Bruns, Paula Franetti, Virginia McGovern, Janet Polansky, Val Mueller, Janet Andrewson, Trudy Petermen, Laura Link, Bernie Kennedy and Marsha Green. Karen Grenot, currently on the disabled list, coaches the team.

Winning gold medals at the Slippery Rock tournament were the Cubs 55-and-over team of Pat Cressley, Sue Faller, Ruth Siegfried and Sarah Johns, along with the 60-and over unit of Pat Cribbens, M.J. Garmey, Joe Brewer, Pat Gibson, Janet Willis and Patsy Larimore. Judy Williamson coaches the 60-and-over team.

The national qualifiers normally are held in July, but McCollough talked the Senior Games officials into allowing the Slippery Rock competition to serve as a qualifier.

"Otherwise, our teams would have had to travel to York to play one or two games and that didn't make sense,"McCollough said.

Along with the five basketball teams, the Senior Olympics of Western Pennsylvania, which is based at the Butler Cubs Hall, hopes to qualify four volleyball teams and a softball team for nationals.

McCollough said there are 62 women in the organization.

A golf tournament will be held May 31 at Lake Arthur Country Club to raise money to support these teams. For information on this event or if interested in joining the Senior Olympics organization, call McCollough at 724-445-9997.

Players must be at least 50 by Dec. 31 to be eligible.