By Al Rabenold
Nearly two decades after the Deep River girls’ basketball team made their first-ever trip to the state girls’ basketball tournament in Des Moines in 1931, they did it again — qualifying two years in a row, in 1950 and 1951!
In 1950 a strong Winterset squad eliminated Deep River in the first round, 64-50. Winterset lost in the semi-finals to the eventual state champion, Slater. Winterset went on to win the consolation game over Mallard.
The following year, 1951, Coach Don Hamann’s squad made a return to state, winning their first two games at the Drake Fieldhouse, beating Sloan, 53-42, in the opening round and getting some revenge by beating Winterset in the second round, 36-35, advancing to the semi-finals.
In the semis, the eventual champion, Hansell, defeated Deep River by a slim four points, 73-69. In the consolation game the Steamboat Rock girls edged Deep River, 65-58.
Hansell, who had defeated Deep River, by just four points in the semi-finals, beat Monona 70-59, in the championship game.
