Story County Girls Basketball Tournament: First round - Gilbert edged Collins out of the county tournament at Colo by a five-point margin, 64-59. Collins did surprisingly well against the undefeated Gilbert team who have played in state tournament competition. Lineup: Betty Spooner (56) (f) 17 pts.; Georgiann Briles (58) (pivot-f) 21 pts.; Janet Evans (55) (f) 21 pts.; Jill Kilgore (57) (f) 0 pts.; Mary McGrane (55) (f) 0 pts.; Sandra Carley (g); Janice Heintz (57) (g); Mary Jo Shultz (g); Saundra Smith (58) (g); Donna Frerichs (57) (g/f); Verlie Etnier (58) (g). The girls drew a tough team for the first round as Gilbert defeated McCallsburg by seventeen points in the championship game of the county tournament.
Story County Boys Basketball Tournament: First round - Gilbert gave Collins a real scare as the Clippers failed to rebound or play good defensive ball the first half and trailed 41-34 at halftime. Collins came back to outscore Gilbert in both the third and fourth quarters for a 77-68 win. Lineup: Larry Laird (56) (f) 15 pts.; John Vasey (56) (f) 24 pts.; Jack Kilgore (55) (c) 16 pts.; Ronnie Long (55) (g) 14 pts.; Gene Fitzgerald (55) (g) 4 pts.; Jerry Thornton (55) (f) 4 pts.
Semi-finals - Roland won over Collins 52-43. The Clippers jumped off to an early 7-0 lead, but Roland tied the game at 27 at halftime. Roland outscored Collins 17-11 in the fourth quarter. Lineup: Larry Laird (56) (f) 7 pts.; John Vasey (56) (f) 20 pts.; Jack Kilgore (55) (c) 9 pts.; Ronnie Long (55) (g) 4 pts.; Gene Fitzgerald (55) (g) 1 pt.; Jerry Thornton (55) (f) 0 pts.; Jim Dodd (56) (f) 2 pts. Vasey and Kilgore fouled out.
Consolation - Collins won third place, defeating Nevada "B" 63-54. Collins trailed ten points early in the second quarter, but narrowed the margin to 30-27 at halftime. Collins outscored Nevada 19-8 in the fourth quarter to take a 63-54 win. Lineup: Larry Laird (56) (f) 10 pts.; John Vasey (56) (f) 32 pts.; Jack Kilgore (55) (c) 5 pts.; Ronnie Long (55) (g) 8 pts.; Gene Fitzgerald (55) (g) 4 pts.; Jerry Thornton (55) (f) 0 pts.; Jim Dodd (56) (f) 4 pts. Laird and Fitzgerald fouled out.
February 3, 1955 Optic Staff: Editor - Mary McGrane; Assist. Editor - John Vasey; Feature Writers - George Keagle, Janice Heintz; Girls' Sports - Mary Jo Shultz; Boys' Sports - Jack Kilgore; F. F. A. - Elliott Partridge; Music Reporter - Daisy Mary Maxwell; Reporters: Junior High - Jane Ballard, Grades - Georgiann Briles; Typists - Sandra Long, Janet Evans.
Grade News: Fourth Grade Subjects - Spelling, Arithmetic, English, Geography, Health, and History; Fifth - In History we are studying the countries and explorers who were interested in finding new trade routes. We have been learning the meaning of such words as molecules, chlorophyll and photosynthesis.
February 10, 1955 Girls Basketball Sectional Tournament at Maxwell: First round - Collins managed to squeeze Maxwell out of the tournament Wednesday night by 50-47 score. Halftime score was Collins 23, Maxwell 22 and Collins had third quarter lead of 37-32. Lineup: Betty Spooner (56) (f) 19 pts.; Georgiann Briles (58) (pivot-f) 4 pts.; Janet Evans (55) (f) 14 pts.; Jill Kilgore (57) (f) 2 pts.; Mary McGrane (55) (f) 11 pts.; Sandra Carley (g); Janice Heintz (57) (g); Mary Jo Shultz (g).
Semi-finals - Van Cleve beat Collins in an exciting overtime game 52-49. Collins trailed the first three quarters, but managed to tie the score 45-45 when the buzzer rang. With near one minute to go in overtime Van Cleve led by one point, hit a lucky basket at the buzzer for the final score of 52-49. Lineup: Betty Spooner (56) (f) 15 pts.; Georgiann Briles (58) (pivot-f) 30 pts.; Janet Evans (55) (f) 4 pts.; Sandra Carley (g); Janice Heintz (57) (g); Mary Jo Shultz (g).