Scott City splits with Colby

Colby, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Tuesday night’s GWAC doubleheader between Colby and Scott City had more than just a league win on the line. Both games had implications that could have an effect on sub-state seeding, that takes place in a week. In the end, there would be a split in the doubleheader, as the Lady Eagles win 53-52, while the Beaver boys hold off a Colby comeback in a 60-55 win in the brand new Colby Event Center.

Colby Girls 53, Scott City 52
It would be a game that started out tight, and ended with drama. The lead changed four times in the opening period, as the Lady Eagles scored the final five points of the quarter to lead 15-12. Scott City wouldn’t lead for the rest of the night, and would do their best to catch up. Colby gradually built their lead in the second quarter, and took a 29-23 lead. They led 33-25 early in the second half, before a 6-0 Lady Beaver run pulled them to 33-31 with 5:08 left in the third frame. The Lady Eagles would get hot from the floor, especially from three-point range, and lead 48-36 with under a minute left in the third quarter. Scott City got a three to close out the quarter to trail by nine, heading into the fourth quarter. The final eight minutes saw a furious comeback by the Lady Beavers. Trailing 50-41 with 6:02 left, Scott City would slowly chip away at the deficit, and tied the game on an Erika Felker three with 1:21 remaining. Both teams would come up empty-handed on their next trips. Colby had the ball late, as Brooklyn Jones drove in and was fouled with 5.1 seconds left. She hit the first free throw, but missed the second. When it looked like Scott City was going to get the rebound, the Lady Eagles would strip the ball and dribble out the clock to pull out the win. The Lady Beavers wanted a jump ball that would’ve given them the ball, but the officials would let the final five seconds play through.

Colby was led by Brooklyn Jones on Senior Night with 23 points, while Emma Curry had 20, as they snapped a three-game losing streak. Scott City was led by Erika Felker with 17 points and Amber Latta added 15, as the Lady Beavers have now lost three straight. 

Colby extended their series lead since 1980 to 56-18. It was the first true split in the season series since 2016. 

Scott City 12 11 16 13-52
Colby       15 14 19   5-53

Scott City (8-11, 1-4): Stevens 0 0-0 0; Rumford 3 0-0 7; Strine 1 2-2 4; Latta 4 6-9 15; Ford 1 0-0 3; Felker 5 3-4 17; Cupp 0 0-0 0; Patton 2 0-0 6; Team: 16 11-15 52
Colby (8-10, 2-2): McKee 1 0-0 3; Nolan 0 1-2 1; Jones 8 5-7 23; Flanagin 0 0-0 0; Wright 0 0-0 0; Barton 0 2-2 2; Cheney 0 0-0 0; Starbuck 0 0-0 0; Stanley 2 0-2 4; Curry 6 2-2 20; Team: 17 10-15 53

Three-Pointers: Scott City 9 (Felker 4, Patton 2, Rumford 1, Latta 1, Ford 1); Colby 9 (Curry 6, Jones 2, McKee 1); Rebounds: Scott City 22, Colby 13; Turnovers: Scott City 17, Colby 10; Fouls: Scott City 13, Colby 15; Fouled Out: None.

Coach Amy Felker Postgame

Scott City Boys 60, Colby 55
Scott City would lead from start to finish, but it wasn’t without a major comeback effort from Colby. The Beavers started out with the first eight points of the game, and took a 13-6 lead into the second quarter. They would lead 16-6 and 18-9, before the Eagles would come back and pull to within 21-17 late in the first half. Scott City hit their final shot of the half to take a six-point lead at 23-17. The Beavers started out on a big run to open the second half with a 12-2 run to lead 35-19 with 4:49 left in the third frame. Their lead grew to 17 on three occasions, and led 41-24 early in the fourth period. That’s when Colby would come back and come back in a big way. A 14-4 run by the Eagles pulled them to within 43-38 with 3:58 left. Despite only connecting on just three field goals in the fourth quarter, Scott City would be clutch at the free throw line. The Beavers would never let the lead get any closer than four in the final two minutes of the game. Colby hit six of their eight three’s in the final quarter in a 31-point final quarter for the Eagles. Scott City went 15-16 at the free throw line to pick up a 60-55 win.

Gus Hawkins led the way for the Beavers with 14 points, and Austin Thon added 14, as Scott City snapped a three-game losing streak. Colby saw Hunter Vaughn score 18 of his 26 points in the final quarter, while Carson VanEaton added 17, as they have dropped back games for the first time since early January.

The win by Scott City snaps a six-game winning streak by Colby in the series. It was the first win for the Beavers in the series, since their 49-48 win on January 19, 2019, in the third place game of the Colby Orange & Black in the Community Building. The Eagles lead the series since 1979 41-35.

Scott City 13 10 16 21-60
Colby         6 11   7 31-55

Scott City (9-10, 3-2): Metzger 0 2-2 2; Thomas 0 0-0 0; Rodriguez 0 0-0 0; Thon 2 9-10 14; Hawkins 7 6-7 20; Bailey 2 2-2 8; Weathers 4 0-0 8; Tarango 1 2-2 4; Gooden 2 0-0 4; Team: 18 21-23 60
Colby (7-11, 1-3): Vaughn 8 6-6 26; Imhof 0 0-0 0; Puckett 3 0-0 8; VanEaton 5 5-7 17; Tubbs 1 0-2 2; Rehmer 0 0-0 0; Barton 0 0-0 0; Foss 0 0-1 0; Betz 1 0-0 2; Team: 18 11-16 55

Three-Pointers: Scott City 3 (Bailey 2, Thon 1); Colby 8 (Vaughn 4, Puckett 2, VanEaton 2); Rebounds: Scott City 32, Colby 20; Turnovers: Scott City 14, Colby 10; Fouls: Scott City 14, Colby 17; Fouled Out: Colby (VanEaton)

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame

Scott City has one game left in the regular season, as they will play host to the Goodland Cowboys and Cowgirls on Tuesday, February 22, while Colby hosts Ulysses on Thursday and visits Cimarron on Friday.