Des Moines Tribune
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
1956

KELLERTON, IA. - Beaconsfield, a Ringgold County Community with a population of less than 100, is a heavy favorite to defeat Kellerton in the final of the sectional high school girls basketball tournament here Saturday night.

Beaconsfield, coached by Supt. Albert R. Troyer, has 25 consecutive victories this season and won the county tournament.

Beaconsfield relies on Beth Walters, 5-foot 7 1/2 inch junior forward who has scored approximately 2,000 points since she started as a seventh grader.

Beth, named on this writer's fourth all-state team lst year, has drawn praise from all who have seen her.

She had a 35-point scoring average last year and is over the 40-point mark this season.

Miss Walters was covered by two and three players in Thursday night's 75-57 semi-final victor over Grand River, which has a fine performer in the speedy Betty Greenland.

But Walters was unstoppable, scoring 57 points. She faked well and hit consistently on a well-executed, left-hand hook shot.

Myrtle Seiver, 5-3 guard, is the only senior on the veteran squad. She is playing her fifth year.

Since Beaconsfield High has only 19 students, including nine girls, the squad has three players from the grades.

Sharon Brown, a freshman and the No. 1 reserve forward, is out for the season with a broken rib, cutting the squad to 11.

Helen Waddell and Beth Bryant, who team with Walters in the front court, are sophomores playing their third year.

Guards Barbara Long and Laverna Waddell, sophomores, are in their fourth season.

The No. 1 reserve guard is Patricia Padgitt, a freshman who is playing her second year.

Beaconsfield holds two regular season victories over Kellerton,, which reached the final with a 52-31 victory over Van Wert Thursday night.

Kellerton played one of its best games against Van Wert.

Kellerton's Linda McCulloch, the best of the guards, is a sophomore, and Carolyn Scott, 5-11 post forward, also is a sophomore. Scott tallied 28 points against Van Wert.

Kellerton's season mark is five victories and 12 defeats.

[NOTE: As predicted, Beaconsfield defeated Kellerton 68-37 and went on to the State Tournament.]

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2015