Thanks to Donetta Phelps of the Tingley Wagon Wheel Cafe' for this week's picture. Posing in front are:
Linda Richards, Jenesse Overholtzer, Ellen Eighme, Donna Ferguson, Doris Johnson, and Ann O'Neal. Standing behind are:
Coach M. H. Obermeier, Karen Owens, Carol Werner, Lucy Dailey, Sue Richards, Betty Jobe, Jo Ellen Archibald, and
Joan Hannah. In 1952, these girls lost in the second round of the state tournament to the eventual state champion girls
from Reinbeck.The 1952 Tingley girls made their way to the state tournament by coming on strong at the end of the
season. On January 19, 1952, they beat Redding 41-36 at Kellerton in the Ringgold County Tournament finals. This was the
first basketball tournament played in Kellerton's new gymnasium as Ferguson and O'Neal starred for the Tingley squad.
Tingley won the Sectional by besting Grand River 56-31 on February 2nd. At the District Tournament in Creston, the Tingley
girls bumped off Bridgewater 56-44 and St. Marys 61-45. Again, Ferguson and O'Neal sparked the team aided by excellent
rebounding by the guards (remember, this was 6-on-6 basketball). The girls then slipped by Churdan 56-54 in the first
round of the state tournament.
[NOTE: In the second round, Tingley lost to Reinbeck 69-35. ~ www.ighsau.org/hoops/records/bbresults.html]
But the decade wasn't over and Coach Obermeier still had plenty of talent in his
bag-of-tricks. 1954 saw the Tingley girls have another great season. The girls won the Ringgold County Tournament on
January 16, pulling off a tough win against Redding in the finals by the score of 54-51. Linda Richards led the Tingley
team while Shirley Powell starred for Redding. Tingley then overpowered Ellston 83-68
in the sectional finals at Kellerton on February 6th, 1954.
The first game of the District Tournament was against
previously unbeaten Adair and would not be settled in regulation time. Myrna England made a free throw in the closing
seconds of the first overtime to seal a 61-60 win for Tingley. On February 20, the girls handed Guthrie Center a defeat
in the finals at Creston 51-43.
Again, the girls won the first round game in the state
tournament by knocking off Williams 56-52. Holstein then beat Tingley 69-62 on March 4th. Guards Karen Owens, Mary Sue Pritchard,
and Sue Richards held the scoring down for Tingley's opponents, while forwards Jenesse Overholtzer, Linda Richards,
and Myrna England rang up the baskets.
The Tingley girls returned to the state tournament a third time in 1957. On
January 12, 1957 Tingley beat Beaconsfield in the Ringgold County Tournament finals. This made the ninth county title
for the Tingley girls in the 14 years of the tournament's existence. To keep things in perspective, I must tell you that
Diagonal and Mt. Ayr did not participate in this tournament during the 1950's. Still, Beaconsfield had gone to the
state tournament the year prior and Kellerton and Redding always fielded good teams, so this tournament was not a
cake walk.
The Tingley girls then beat Grand River in the sectional finals at Lamoni 49-44.
The district tournament
saw Myrna England shine for Tingley as she scored the game-winner with 5 seconds left against Kellerton on
February 19th. In the finals against Fontanelle on February 23rd. Myrna stole a pass and scored the game-winner giving Tingley the 52-50 victory.
Myrna England, Marilyn Minnick, and Brenda Brown were the top scorers for Tingley. Mary Sue Pritchard, Sue Richards, and
Mary Jane Minnick were the solid defense that took Tingley to their third state tournament in six years. And don't forget
Coach M. H. Obermeier. He had success at Shannon City and Arispe before coming to Tingley and he would have continued
success at Mount Ayr beginning in 1959.
Something I noticed while doing research was Sue Richards' name appearing on all
three state tournament teams; a span of six years. It turns out Sue had made the varsity team as a seventh-grader in
1952. She was the only player to appear at all three state tournaments for Tingley. Sue also told me Tingley rarely
played home games as their gymnasium was quite small. This, undoubtedly, was an advantage at tournament time, having
gotten used to playing on opposing courts.
Congratulations to Coach "Obie" and the 1950s Tingley girls basketball
teams!
Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker
