Holcomb splits road doubleheader with Colby

Colby, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–

Courtesy of Benjamin Hutchinson

The Holcomb Longhorns split with the Colby Eagles on Tuesday night. The Lady Longhorns lost 45-39 while the Holcomb Boys won 67-62.

Colby Girls 45, Holcomb 39
The Lady Longhorns started slow on offense with 10 turnovers in the first quarter. But good defense allowed them to keep the game close and be down 8-7 after one quarter. Jera Kruleski, who dealt with foul trouble all night, scored 5 of her 6 points in the second quarter to help the Longhorns have a 18-13 lead at halftime. Brooklynn Jones got going for Colby in the third quarter with 11 points to give Colby the lead after three quarters of play 29-27. The Longhorns would keep it close and be down only one point with a little over a minute to go at 40-39, but a missed shot and a couple of turnovers and made free throws by Colby gave them the victory over Holcomb 45-39.

Colby shot 8/25 from 2pt, 5/24 from 3pt, and 13/18 from the free throw line. They had 19 rebounds, seven of those were offensive rebounds. They had 18 turnovers. Colby was led by Brooklynn Jones with 21 points and three rebounds, Emma Curry with nine points, and Alisabeth Barton with nine points.

Holcomb shot 15/29 from 2pt, 2/11 from 3pt, and 3/5 from the free throw line. They had 24 rebounds, six of those were offensive rebounds. The Longhorns had 27 turnovers, 18 of which were in the first and fourth quarters. Holcomb was led by Nicole Ruda with 12 points and 8 rebounds, Paige Jones with 8 points and 6 rebounds, and Emma Cornelsen with 6 points and 3 rebounds. The Lady Longhorns fell to 2-3 on the season.

Coach Andrea Ardery Postgame

Holcomb Boys 67, Colby 62
The Holcomb boys played a back and forth first half with Colby. Holcomb was on top 11-8 after the first quarter and it was tied 30-30 at halftime. Holcomb outrebounded Colby in the first half 20-6 and 12-0 on the offensive glass. The Longhorns came out strong in the third quarter, but Colby responded to every run and Holcomb led 47-43 going into the fourth quarter. The Longhorns went 6/8 from the field and clutch free throws by Cooper Autry in the fourth stretched it out to a 67-56 lead with 15 seconds to go. Hunter Vaughn would hit back to back three pointers with a Holcomb turnover to cut it to five points. But the Longhorns come away with the victory 67-62.

Colby shot 17/36 from 2pt, 6/14 from 3pt, and 8/17 from the free throw line. They had 15 rebounds, only one was an offensive rebound. The Eagles had just six turnovers. Colby was led by Hunter Vaughn with 18 points, Carson Van Eaton with 18 points and six rebounds, and Guy Tubbs with 13 points.

Holcomb shot 16/35 from 2pt, 9/21 from 3pt and 10/20 from the free throw line. They had 35 rebounds, 13 of those were offensive rebounds. The Longhorns had nine Turnovers, four of those in the final frame. Holcomb was led by Cooper Autry with 20 points and four rebounds, Kaden Johnson had 17 points and 13 rebounds for a double double, and Luke Tolbert had 15 points.

The Longhorn Boys moved to 4-1 on the season.

Coach Chad Novack Postgame