Boys: Although clobbered by 44 points the first time they met New Providence, the Collins boys showed tremendous improvement and came within a whisker of pulling a big upset. Gordon Carver sank 2 free throws with 5 seconds left to knot the score at 68-68 and send game into overtime. A disastrous overtime saw Collins unable to score and New Providence hitting 10 points for a 78-68 victory. Collins trailed at halftime 39-37. Collins scoring: Gordon Carver 21 pts. (Likely career high); Mark Atwood 18 pts.; Bob Earles 14 pts. (Lineup not found)
January 11, 1969 Basketball The Collins girls and boys had decisive losses at SEMCO of Gilman, girls losing 74-29 and boys 87-34.
January 13, 1969 Foreign Exchange Student Ana Marie Villaneuva, a 15-year-old girl from Argentina, bound for an exchange student visit in Collins, Iowa, had a free one-night vacation in Cuba when the plane she rode was hi-jacked. She will reside in the home of Mrs. Patricia Kimberley, one and one-half miles south of Collins and attend Collins High School before returning home in late June. Miss Villaneuva left Buenos Aires, Argentinawith 83 YFU students aboard a chartered Peruvian jet. Enroute the plane landed in Ecuador. The plane over flew Cuba enroute to Miami and when nearing Miami a non-student passenger from Ecuador produced a gun and forced the plane back to Havana, Cuba. The plane's co-pilot said the hi-jacker told the flight crew: "My life doesn't matter, neither do the lives of you or the passengers - I want to go to Havana." The plane's captain turned the jet toward Havana, but the plane's public address system failure kept him from informing the 110 passengers. Shortly after landing in Havana, University of Havana students were bussed to the airport to mingle with the passengers. The Cubans were genial hosts, serving sandwiches and juices during a two to three-hour wait at the airport. The exchange students were then taken to a restaurant to eat and then visited Veradero Beach where they watched a floor show for three hours, danced, and then were given overnight rooms. The group was served breakfast the next morning, bussed to the airport and boarded a plane for Miami. From there Miss Villaneuva traveled to Atlanta, to Detroit, to Chicago, and on to Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Kimberley met Ana at the airport about 1:00 a.m. and she is safe in the Kimberley home. School will begin in a couple days.
January 16, 1969 Basketball The Collins girls gave the Maxwell team a scare on their court before falling to a 58-49 loss. The Collins girls trailed by 15 points going into the final quarter - 44-29. The Maxwell delay offense almost backfired and the Clipperettes cut the margin to 3 points 52-49 with 50 seconds to play. Maxwell scored three points to assure the victory. Collins scoring: Donna Rumbaugh 22 pts.; Cathy Carroll 21 pts.; Linda Carroll 6 pts. (Lineup not found)
Collins boys played to a 1st quarter 15-15 tie with Maxwell taking a halftime lead of 37-26, Collins coming back in the 3rd quarter to outscore Maxell 18-14. Maxwell finished the game strong for the 71-58 victory. Collins scoring: Marv Huntrods 15 pts.; Gordon Carver 15 pts.; John Hale 10 pts.; Mark Atwood 10; Bob Earles 8.
January 18, 1969 Basketball The Collins girls ran up their highest offensive game of the season, defeating Mingo 83-64. The Clipperettes bolted out to a 14 point 1st quarter margin and led throughout the game. Collins scoring: Donna Rumbaugh 33 pts.; Cathy Carroll 27; Linda Carroll 21 pts.; Janice Hunt 2 pts. (Lineup not found)
The Collins boys lost by less than five points for the fourth time this season. Mingo 67-64. Mingo had a 56-50 lead with five minutes left, then went into a semi-stall game. Collins rallied and closed to within one point at 59-58, 61-60, and 65-64, but could never get over the top. Collins scoring: Mark Atwood 16 pts.; Gordon Carver 16 pts.; Marv Huntrods 14 pts.; John Hale 9 pts.; Bob Earles 9 pts.