In 1941 a major change in guarding rules. The change permitted a guard to secure or strike the ball from the opponent when the opponent was in the act of shooting. Previously a player was not permitted to tie up the ball or knock it from an opponent's grasp under any circumstances. These rule changes enacted in 1941 enabled the game to develop from near stationary playing (girls posed and shot) to one with more action and faster playing tempo. Later changes added to more action and faster game tempo; 3 second-limit to forwards in the free-throw lane (made pivot forward be mobile rather than only standing in the lane for pivot shots) - change in early 1950's. Also in the 1950's guards were permitted to secure or strike the ball when the opponent was in the act of passing or dribbling. The free-throw lane was widened to near double prior width in early/mid 1960's. Also increase 1-dribble limit to 2 dribbles near the same date.
Schools in the state tournament the most times through 1950 are: Seymour - 11; Wellsburg - 10; Centerville - 9; Waterville and Wiota - 8, Mallard - 7, Clutier, Coon Rapids, Hansell, Steamboat Rock - 6, Audubon, Numa, Ida Grove, Olin, West Bend - 5.
Sources: The Palimpsest, February 1950 issue (Insert: 2003)
Collins School: The girls basketball team was organized September 1916. Eight members were Lorene Anderson (1917), Leona Halterman (1917), and Mary Holmes (1917), Ada Westcott, Frances Denniston, Mildred Denniston, Mildred Bence (1920), Julia Tracy (1919). Other team members' names and coach's name not available. No information located on games played. This is the earliest information provided to us on Collins School basketball by a 1924 graduate whose father was a school board member 1920-1922 and 1928-1931. Same source indicated also had girls' teams 1917-18 and 1918-19. Apparently some games were played outside in early fall. The 1909 building, lower level had gymnasium area according to initial building plans. How this area was actually utilized during this time period is unknown.
The first reference found on a specific game is February 7, 1921 with Colo defeating Collins, 13 - 8 at Colo. The 1928-29 girls was the first Collins basketball team with undefeated scheduled game season, winning all eight scheduled games. Coach - Miss Ives, team members were: Forwards; Gertrude Smith, Arleen Pritchard, Genevieve Shickell; Guards; Harrett Sokol, Ethlyn Keagle, Beatrice Pritchard, Kathryn Kimberley; Center - Vilda Smith, Ruby Snapp; Side Center - Mildred Gearhart, Opal Vasey. (5-4-04 Insert of first time compiled career-scoring summary. Vicki (Mullihan) Keagle (1967) is the career "All Time" scoring leader with 2437 points in four year career; Freshman (63-64) = 466, Sophomore (64-65) = 595, Junior (65-66) = 734, Senior (66-67) = 642.) Georgiann (Briles) Koeder (1958) with 1969 points in four-year career was prior career scoring leader. The team's best year was 1955-56 with season record of 23 wins and 3 losses. They won the South Story Conference title; won 17 scheduled games with no losses, and took third place in the district tournament, losing to New Sharon who advanced into state tournament, in the semi-finals.
The Iowa Hawkeye Girls Basketball program was the envy of many states for many years before Federal laws (near 1970) required greater equality for girls' athletics through the U.S.A.