Adel Ends Mediapolis Streak: Iowa Time Machine March 14, 1974

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On March 14, 1974, the unthinkable happened at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. Mediapolis High School, led by the incomparable Deb Coates, saw its 58-game basketball winning streak end in a stunning defeat to Adel.

Before the five-player game became universal, Iowa remained famous for its six-on-six style. This offensively charged version gave girls from small towns a spotlight rarely afforded female athletes elsewhere. Communities filled gyms as if attending church, and local papers devoted entire sections to game reports. Mediapolis, a small town in southeast Iowa, had become a powerhouse in this system. Led by Coach Vernon “Lefty” Moore and driven by Coates’ scoring prowess, the team symbolized both athletic excellence and the pride of a community that lived through its players’ success.

That March night in 1974, the electricity inside Des Moines’ “Barn” was almost tangible as a sellout crowd of 14,670 packed in. Mediapolis carried the aura of invincibility; their perfect rhythm was built on precision passing and relentless shooting. Yet Adel arrived with its own quiet confidence and a strategy that slowed the pace and disrupted Coates’ signature rhythm. Despite Coates pouring in 62 of the 67 points for the Mediapolis Bullettes, the final buzzer sounded with Adel leading 78-67. Adel saw three forwards chip in memorable performances as Joyce Elder scored 28, Julie Goodrich poured in 26, and Barb Straight added 24.

That night, a 58-game winning streak ended, and the crowd stared on in disbelief. For all her brilliance, Coates and her team walked off the court as reminders that even dynasties end, and that heartbreak can carry its own kind of immortality. Half a century later, the echoes of that game still resound through Iowa’s sports history. The six-on-six game may have disappeared, with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union transitioning all schools to the five-player format by the early 1990s, but its legends endure. Deb Coates remains a name synonymous with small-town excellence and sportsmanship, and her performances have influenced generations of players who never had the chance to play under the old system. #Iowa #OTD #6on6 #Basketball #GirlsBasketball