Boys Sectional Tournament: Colo upset Collins 35-33 in the opening game thriller. Defeated three times during the season by Collins, Colo trailed 10-5 at the end of the first quarter, were leading 15-14 at halftime, and finished out the game for a two-point victory. A Colo player scored the deciding basket with 35 seconds remaining in the game, with a shot from behind the free throw circle for a 34-31 lead. Colo made the first of two free throws, but waived the second free throw to take the ball out of bounds. (Insert 2005: The team shooting free throws had the option at any time for shooting the free throw or taking the ball out of bounds. When the team was in the lead, it was customary to take the ball out of bounds near the end of the game to stall the remainder of the time.) After playing their first three games against Collins with a zone defense, Colo switched to man-to-man tactics for the tournament game, which was very effective. Collins also played a pressing defense as both teams played rugged defensive game. Ronnie Halterman was leading Collins' scorer with 12 points.
Basketball - Junior high boys runners-up in the Ames Junior High Tournament: First round defeated Cambridge by a two point margin; Second round defeated Fernald by a seven point margin; Semi-final round defeated Gilbert by a 12 point margin. Final round - The championship game was a hard-fought battle the first half, with Nevada holding a 17-10 lead. The taller Nevada team controlled second half to win by an eighteen-point margin. Junior High team usual starting lineup: Rhineardt Kilker (f) 0 pts.; Donald Coughenour (f) 0 pts.; Philip Holland (c) 9 pts.; Erwin Frerichs (g) 1 pt.; John Duesbury (g) 0 pts.; and other team members: Carroll Smith (g) 3 pts.; Reno Milligan (f); Darrel Moses (c); Larry Heintz (f); John Carver (f); Virgil Swaim (f); Arnold Smith (g). Trophy displayed in Gazette office window.
March 11, 1948 Monday's election of the Collins Consolidated School District resulted in the election of two new members to the School Board - Mrs. Grainger Buck and Alva Elliott, both elected for three-year terms. Other Board members are L. D. Holland, Ernest Hofer, K. W. Tomlinson. Treas. - J. R. Witmer; Secretary - Mrs. O. N. Serbein.
Honor Roll - Six Weeks: 7th - Keith Weigel, Shirley Shuey, Lee Ann Ridgeway, Ruth Klaaren, Phyllis Carroll. 8th - John Carver, John Duesbury, Erwin Frerichs, Larry Heintz, Philip Holland, Carolyn Long, Virginia Mead, Joy Milligan. 9th Nora Neale, Bonnie Long, Max Liggett, Pat Klaaren, Barbara Kimberley, Norma Keagle, Kenneth Carroll, Phyllis Baker. 10th Carol Atwood, Arlene Baker, Gail Clark, Connie Neale, Lane Rice, John Runyan, Joyce Tomlinson. 11th Chris Buck, Jo Ann Fertig, Kathleen Kitchen, Bob Wilkening. 12th Gene Atwood, Alma Bach, Ramona Beavers, Dolores Gardner, Darlene Haley, Ronald Halterman, Beverly Liggett, Lois Maxwell, Margaret Maxwell, Ronald Stratton, George Tiffany, Anna Van Pilsum, Norma Vasey.
March 18, 1948 Spelling Contest - Virginia Mead represented Collins in the Story County Spelling Contest. She was second in the oral contest section.
Free Throw Contest On Monday, March 1, 64 contestants started the first round of the free throw contest. It ended last Tuesday (five rounds later) with a red-hot battle between Dolores Gardner (48) and Erwin Frerichs (52), with Erwin the winner. Erwin made 45 out of a possible 75 and Dee made 44 out 75. The consolation round was another fast battle between Gene Atwood (48) and George Tiffany (48). George finally downed Gene after dropping 57 to Gene's 49 out of a possible 75. We know all the students are looking forward to another tournament next year. The 1st prize was a 1-lb box of Fanny Farmer candy and 2nd and 3rd place prizes were ?-lb. boxes. Also there was a booby prize which was awarded to Donald Barnes as he only made 1 out of 25.