March 1, 1974. Collins Took Its Second Consecutive Sectional Class A Boys Basketball Title by tripping Ballard 57-55 In The Finals. Both crowds were fired up for the contest and the score was never more than 5 points apart. During the tense last 2 1/2 minutes the ball changed hands numerous times, but neither team could get on the scoreboard. Collins took a 19-16 1st quarter lead and still had a 3-point advantage 35-32 at halftime. Ballard led 48-45 after 3 quarters. The bucket which put Collins ahead for its final margin was by Fitzgerald from the right baseline with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game. From there on the contest was a series of tense mistakes. Teams traded traveling violations. The Bombers then stalled with the ball until 19 seconds remained when Dennis Booth fired a long shot, Oswalt rebounded and was fouled. The Collins senior barely missed the free throw, Ballard rebounded, held the ball and shot with 5 seconds left. The rebound was tied up with Ballard getting the ball and Collins committing a foul with 4 seconds left. The Clippers had been called for only 4 fouls in the second half so Ballard had to take the ball out of bounds and a long shot at the gun barely missed. Scoring: Oswalt 23, Fitzgerald 14, Beavers 10, Caulkins 6, Patterson 4. The play of the Collins guards throughout the tournament has been exceptional. Collins had a margin of 37-24 on the rebounds. Oswalt 12, Beavers 12, Caulkins 6, Lillard 5, Patterson 1.
Collins advances at 15-5 to District Play against Central Webster (Burnside) at Ames on March 6.
March 7, 1974. Collins boys were eliminated from District Basketball Tourney 78-67, concluding season record of 15-6. Central Webster scored first; Collins rallied to tie the count 26-26 early in the 2nd quarter. Central rallied to a 47-35 halftime score. Collins was unable to cut the margin below 6 points during the 2nd half, with final score of 78-67. Scoring: Bill Oswalt 28, Jerold Fitzgerald 16, Keith Patterson 15, Frank Beavers 6, Ken Caulkins 2. Collins shooting percentage was 51% with 14 team assists. Rebounds: Ken Caulkins 13, Bill Oswalt 9, Frank Beavers 5, Jerold Fitzgerald 4, Tony Moses 1. Collins tied Central on rebounding 42-42. The entire starting five graduates this year.
March 18, 1974. Collins won the Girls State Indoor Track meet at the Drake field house. Debbie Carroll won three events and Collins team scored 38 points. Collins, long recognized as a powerhouse in girls track claimed 2nd place in the four-lap relay plus three 1st places. Debbie Carroll finished 1st in the long jump (17' 6"), which bettered her last year mark of 17', and 50 yard dash (6.3 seconds). Debbie Carroll also established a new state indoor record in the one-lap dash (it equals 150 yards) in 17.4 seconds, bettering the old mark (17.8 seconds). The Clipperette team of Julie Lehman, Cindy Tiffany, Mary Beth Kingman and Debbie Carroll finished second (1:15.5) in the four-lap relay. Nearly 1,000 girls competed from 85 high schools and 24 universities and college track clubs.
March 18, 1974. The Collins Benefit Show will be held Tuesday night at the Collins gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. The show will feature basketball games between the high school boys and girls and their parents. Also a 5th and 6th grade scooter board hockey game. Admission is $1.00 per person.