Holcomb splits with Colby

Courtesy of Benjamin Hutchinson
Holcomb, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Holcomb Longhorns split with the Colby Eagles to start the new year on Thursday night. The Lady Longhorns won 55-49 and the Holcomb men fell 50-46.

Holcomb Girls 55, Colby 49
Both teams started slow, but the Lady Longhorns would have a lead of 4-3 with 3:45 to go in the first quarter. Then 3, three pointers by Colby, two of which came from Logan Nolan would give them a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Holcomb would be down 16-9 with 6:00 minutes to go in the first half. But foul trouble and a five-minute scoring drought for Colby gave the Longhorns an opportunity to take the lead. Holcomb would lead 21-19 at halftime. Halle Jones would have 11 points in the third quarter to help the Longhorns stretch out their lead 37-26 at the end of the third quarter. The Eagles fought back within three points at 44-41 with three minutes to go. Halle Jones would then hit a big three and the Longhorns would make free throws down the stretch to win over Colby 55-49

Colby shot 7-23 from three-point, 8-20 from inside, and 9-16 from the free-throw line. They had 19 rebounds, six of those were offensive boards. The Eagles had 13 turnovers.

Colby was led by Logan Nolan with 12 points, and Alisabeth Barton with 17 points.

Holcomb shot 5-20 from three-point, 13-26 from inside, and 14-18 from the free throw line. They had 30 rebounds, 13 of those were offensive boards. The Longhorns had 16 turnovers.

Holcomb was led by Halle Jones with 24 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, Jera Kruleski with 11 points and 5 rebounds, and Kalyn King with eight points.

Holcomb is now 4-2 on the season.

Colby Boys 50, Holcomb 46
The first quarter would be back and forth but the Longhorns would have a lead 18-13 at the end of it. Holcomb shot 4-5 from three-point range in the first quarter. Colby would lock down defensively and retake the lead going into halftime up 28-23. In the third quarter Colby would stretch the lead to 34-25 with four minutes to go in the third quarter. Holcomb would work their way back into it with great defense, capped by the freshman Korbin Johnson drawing charge to get the Longhorns a chance to take the lead down by one point. It was 34-33 with one minute to go in the third quarter. But some empty possessions and an old fashioned three-point play by Colby would stretch the lead back to four points. Holcomb was down 37-35 to start the fourth quarter. They would again get it within one point with seven minutes to go in the game 37-36. But again, empty possessions and another old fashioned three-point play stretched the lead to 4 points at 40-36 with six minutes left in the game. Holcomb would never get closer than that down the stretch and fell in a tightly fought game 50-46 to Colby.

Colby shot 4-11 from three-point, 14-39 from inside, and 10-20 from the free throw line. They had 18 rebounds, eight of those were offensive boards. The Eagles had just five turnovers.

Colby was led by Hunter Vaughn with 17 points, and Boston Tubbs with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Holcomb shot 7-14 from three-point, 10-23 from inside, and 5-6 from the free throw line. They had 26 rebounds, five of those were offensive boards. The Longhorns had 19 turnovers.

Holcomb was led by Kaden Hardy with 16 points (on four three-pointers), Dalton Long with eight points, and Drayton Knoll with six points.

Holcomb falls to 4-2 on the season.

Next up for the Longhorns day two of a back to back on Friday at home against Ulysses.