BACK ROW, L-R: Jerry ANDREW, Jerry FUGATE, Jim HUNT, Mike McDOWELL, Allan HUNT

MIDDLE ROW, L-R: Ernest WICKER, Richard KASTER, Lloyd REED, Richard RAINEY, David HOLMES

FRONT ROW, L-R: Coach ROOD, Ronnie KASTER, Leslie REED, Gerald PAYTON, Bill PRIEST

  After only two days practice, the Kellerton baseball team dropped its opening baseball game, 5 to 15, in favor of Van Wert. This was the last loss for the boys until Macksburg beat them in the first game of the District Tourney. The scores of the regularly scheduled games were as follows:

  After a tremendous amount of improvement throughout the season, the boys won the Sectional Torney, which was held at Leroy, by defeating the teams listed below:

  The boys were paired with Macksburg, the eventual tourney winners, for the first game of the District Tournament. Macksburg's pitcher seemed to be too much for the boys as they dropped a well-played game, 4 to 1.

Due to the great improvement of the team as the season progressed, it is felt that the boys will be pretty fair during the spring season. The addition of Paul NASH, a transfer from Mitchellville, should strengthen the team considerably. it is unfortunate that we cannot have the results of the spring season in this annual [1956 Tomahawk], but it has to be sent in for publication by February.

BACK ROW, L-R: Coach ROOD, Marcia HANKS, Marie JENSEN, Eileen MALONEY, Kathryn HOLMES, Elaine HOHNEKE, Joyce GIBSON

FRONT ROW, L-R: Diane McDOWELL, Kay AKERS, Linda McCOLLOCH, Carolyn SCOTT, Carolyn DAVENPORT, Elizabeth CORLL

  A relatively inexperienced group of girls reported for basketball practice to start the season this year. Although six or seven of the girls were previous letter winners their ability on the court left a lot to be desired. Carolyn DAVENPORT, a veteran of about four seasons, was about the only girl who could hold her own.

As the season progressed, however, even though we lost most of our games, these girls began to get the idea of the game. Since the pivot girl from last year had to be replaced, we naturally found it difficult to score. Carolyn SCOTT, with a little experience as a guard, was switched to the pivot position and developed as the season progressed. Carolyn DAVENPORT, our experienced forward, helped develop Diane McDOWELL into the other out-forward.

After a few games the guards, consisting of primarily Linda McCOLLOCH, Liz CORLL and Kay AKERS, began to shape up. Eileen MALONEY and Elaine HOHNEKE were also used quite a lot.

The whole team progressed by leaps and bounds as we played our scheduled games but they never quite hit their stride. During the tournaments and in two or three scheduled games the girls found themselves and played pretty fair ball. All in all much valuable experience was gained which should help considerably next year. Carolyn DAVENPORT is the only girl lost via the graduation route this year. This will indeed hurt us but the other girls with their added experience should be much better come next season.

Our won and lost record, 5 - 16, is not very impressive but to sort of compensate for that the girls eliminated two teams in the sectional tourney and thus reached the finals. Carolyn DAVENPORT sprained her ankle and didn't get to participate in the Sectional Tourney. This hurt us badly throughout the tournament. A very strong Beaconsfield team beat us but everyone felt good as the runners-up team.

  Carolyn DAVENPORT (Whatta gal!) has played six years of basketball on the first team for K.H.S. She started her long career while only a seventh grader. During the six seasons, she has alternated between guard and forward. She has been a good scorer, smart rebounder and a terrific playmaker. Probably her greatest attribute was her never ending fire and hustle. The many hours she has spent in representing this high school will be long remembered.

     

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BACK ROW, L-R: Coach ROOD, Bill PRIEST, Ernest SMITH, Gerald PAYTON, Larry WALTERS, Jerry FUGATE, Frederic TROWER, Richard RAINEY

FRONT ROW, L-R: Richard KASTER, Ronnie KASTER, Mike McDOWELL, Jim HUNT, Jerry ANDREW, Paul NASH

  The basketball season started with about 14 boys reporting for practice. Of these 14 boys, only 4 were returning lettermen.

This relatively inexperienced crew soon conteracted their inexperience with terrific determination and drive. To say that they worked hard is an understatement. All of the boys worked hard and practiced many hours. In this aspect two boys, Paul NASH and Mike McDOWELL, deserve much special respect and admiration. These boys often stayed and practiced after regular practice for the day was over. To them is due much credit for the success of this year's team.

Jerry ANDREW developed into the finest rebounder, particularly in view of his size, of anyone around here. he certainly compensated for his lack of scoring power with his terrific rebounding and defensive skill. The tough defensive man was always Jerry's assignment. With Jerry and Jim HUNT as the necleous, we probably had one of the better rebounding teams in this territory.

While Jim was a good rebounder, his main asset was an eye for the bucket. He hit about 60% of his field goal attempts in several games this year and ended the season with an overall average of 50%. This is good shooting on anyone's basketball team.

Ronnie KASTER and Gerald PAYTON were the other mainstays on the team. Richard KASSTER also saw quite a bit of action. Ronnie possessed a lot of speed and also had a good eye for the basket. Gerald proved to be a good steady ballplayer who could always be counted on to do a good job. He turned in several fine performances.

With a season record f 20 wins and five losses, we were all extremely proud of the bosy. Four of these losses wer to Diagonal which was no doubt one of the strongest clubs in southwestern Iowa. Our first lass to them was by one point in overtime. In the next two encounters, we were beaten by only a few points and in the last game again by only one point. We felt our ballclub was just as good as theirs, but we could not combat their experience which we lacked.

We are looking forward to a good season next year.

  In losing Jerry from our basketball team we are losing undoubtedly one of the better high school players in this part of the country. His value has beenimmeasurable. He has never been a high scorer and thus has gone rather unnoticed by many. In spite of his height (only 5'10") Jerry has been one of the finest rebounders to come out of K.H.S. He has terrific defensive and ball-handling ability. To merely say he was a great team man is an understatement. We salute Jerry ANDREW for the fine job he has done for his school.

Paul NASH, a transfer student from Mitchellville, has been the outstanding guard on our basketball team. Paul has scored in the double figures for us game after game. He is a good set shot and also has a fine jump shot. He has sorta been our offensive quarterback. With his fine ball-handling ability, he has developed into a terrific team man. Nobody has worked harder or put more practice hours trying to perfect themselves than Paul. In short, Paul has won much respect for K.H.S. Hats off to Paul NASH.

     

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High School Organizations, 1956

Courtesy of GV Musuem/Foland School, Kellerton, August of 2010