Top Missouri basketball single game scorer looks back on historic moment
During the 1950-'51 school years, a member of the Schell City High School girl's basketball team set some records that still stand today.
Ruth Harms of Schell City, Mo., played with the basketball team. They played Bronaugh at the Nevada High School for a March of Dimes Benefit Game Feb. 6, 1951, and she racked up 85 points. She became the top, individual, single-game scorer in Missouri high school basketball history and 61 years later, no one has surpassed her record.
"Bronaugh still won the game," Ruth lamented. "The score was 107 to 110."
This was the era when there were six girls playing on each team -- three forwards and three guards. They never crossed over the center line. Girls were not allowed to play full court.
"There weren't three pointers then, either, they were only two points. The guards would throw me the ball high and hard. I could out-jump girls taller than me and I usually scored. I averaged 60 or more points each game."
However, there weren't very many girls taller than Ruth who was 6 feet tall. In a game at Walker with Schell City against Bronaugh on Feb. 23, 1950, Ruth scored 67 points. On Feb. 4, 1951, with Schell City again against Bronaugh, Ruth scored 66 points. Jan. 18, 1951, at El Dorado Springs with Schell City playing Halfway, Ruth scored 64 points. In two games against Walker, one on Nov. 22, 1950, and again on Dec. 12, 1950, Ruth scored 63 points each game.
Ruth named the Schell City girls' basketball team of 1950-'51. Guards were Noma McClanahan, Beverly Reed, June Gray, and Cordellia Wells. Forwards were Elma "Winkie" McClanahan, Helen Colson and Carol Jean Loyd, and herself. Patty Vantellman and Dorothy Flint were subs.
"It was rare we ever had over 10 to 12 on the team at one time. My coach for my sophomore through senior years was Mr. Guy Brasher. When I would be in study hall on my free period, he would come in and tell me to go practice my free throw shots. He told me 'A lot of games are won on free throws.' That was true for me because I was fouled a lot. We always played our games on Friday night and practice games on Wednesday evenings somewhere. We left on the bus and played at 7, usually getting home about 10 p.m," Ruth said.
Schell City took first place in the El Dorado Tournament on Jan, 18, 1951, against El Dorado Springs. Ruth made 64 points that game. She still feels the pride of the win and was selected to accept the trophy.
"That was quite an accomplishment, for a little school like Schell City to win against a bigger school like El Dorado Springs," she said.
Money didn't grow on trees in those days, either, but pecans fell from the trees on their farm near Schell City. Ruth picked up and sold them and was able to buy boys gym shoes. "They were light-weight, but thick-soled shoes and had ankle support. I ordered them from Montgomery Wards catalog," Ruth said.
After graduating from high school in 1951, Ruth went on to play professionally with the Red Heads out of Cassville, Mo. "We traveled in 21 states and Canada," she said.
However, the love bug bit, and Ruth married Phillip O'Brien in 1952.
They moved to Kansas City and started their family. He was injured in a car accident and unable to work, so they moved back to Schell City. Ruth gained employment at the Nevada City Hospital in 1958, where she became the night admissions clerk and switchboard operator. She retired in April 1997 after 39 years.
Ruth still works one day a week at Challenge and Change in Nevada.
"Up until about 10 years ago, I played basketball with the teenaged boys."
She credits her active lifestyle as helping her be "a bionic woman."
Even though she has had open-heart surgery and other problems along the way, including diabetes and some related difficulties, she still mows her more-than-an-acre yard each summer. She also cares for her home and drives her car to work.
Ruth has five children. Her youngest son, David, played basketball at Schell City and won the Most Improved Player Award. A grandson, Brandon Huckabee, played basketball and was so good he won a college scholarship, but chose not to use it. "He is 6 feet, 5 inches and is a prize fighter. He can knock somebody out in 16 seconds!"
Athletes continue to come from the Harms family, but they haven't topped Ruth's 85 points in one single game.