One of the finest basketball players this province has produced passed away Tuesday. Hall of Famer Donna Brenton was 63.
A Marystown native who enjoyed a 30-year career as a physical education teacher at Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John’s, Brenton was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
Introduced to the game in 1971 in her native community, Brenton enjoyed a career that saw her play locally and provincially, and represent the province in national competition.
She played for Memorial University’s women’s basketball team from 1973-1977 under coaches Ed Browne, Joe Wadden and Glenn Taylor, helping MUN to an Atlantic varsity title in 1975.
In addition to the Atlantic varsity crown, the Memorial squad won the St. John’s senior women’s league championship three times, with Brenton winning MVP and top scorer honours, and leading the circuits in rebounding.
Following her university career, Brenton was given membership into Memorial’s Athletic Honor Society.
She was one of Newfoundland’s top players at the 1975 Lethbridge, Alta., Canada Winter Games, her first national experience. She would go on to play in six national senior women’s championships, and 11 provincial senior women’s tournaments where she was consistently chosen for all-star teams, and in the running for MVP and top scorer awards.
Brenton appeared in her final provincial championship in 1988 in Placentia, where she was named MVP.
Following her basketball career, Brenton picked up golf and enjoyed success on the links, winning many tournaments in her 30-plus years as a member of Bally Haly in St. John’s. She won the Bally Haly club championship in 2001, after representing Newfoundland on the provincial ladies amateur team at the 1998 national ladies amateur championship.
She also curled at Bally Haly.
Resting at Carnell’s Funeral Home, a Funeral Mass will be held from St. Teresa’s Parish 9:30 a.m. Friday.
