Scott City splits doubleheader with Colby

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s GWAC doubleheader not only had possible league implications, but also possible positioning in the sub-state standings. In the end, it would be a split, as Scott City won the girls game 37-27, while the Colby boys picked up the win 62-52.

Scott City Girls 37, Colby 27
Scott City would start out strong, but would hang on in the end. The Lady Beavers scored the games first nine points of the night, and took a 13-2 lead into the second quarter. Colby would pull to within nine in the opening minute of the second quarter. That would be as close as they would get for a while. Scott City (12-5, 6-1 GWAC) used an 11-0 run over the next 5:30 to lead 2404 with 2 minutes remaining in the half. The Lady Eagles would pull to within 24-7 at the break.

In the second half, Colby (10-7, 4-3) made small pushes in the second half to get closer. They outscored the Lady Beavers 10-6 in the third quarter to get to within 30-17 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, it looked like maybe Scott City would pull away. The Lady Eagles would make one final surge, using a 9-1 run to pull to within 34-26 with 44 seconds left. In the end, the Lady Beavers would sink three of four free throws down the stretch to pick up the win.

Leading the way for Scott city was Emily Weathers with 18 points. Scott City shot 6-12 from the free throw line and committed 17 turnovers. Colby got 12 points from Brooklyn Jones, as the Lady Eagles were also 6-12 from the foul line and had 15 turnovers.

With the win, Scott City has now won a program-best nine straight against Colby. Since 1984, the Lady Eagles lead the series 44-13. With three games to play, the Lady Beavers have not only the tiebreaker on seeding, but have a two-game edge on Colby in the sub-state standings.

Coach Sarah McCormick Postgame

Colby Boys 62, Scott City 52
For the first three quarters, it was anyone’s game. With 11 ties and 11 lead changes, the fourth quarter would look to come down to the very end. That would not be the case. Scott City led 10-9 after the first quarter, and 13-9 early in the second quarter. That was their largest lead of the night. Colby responded with an 8-2 run to lead 17-15 with 4:41 left before halftime. By the end of the first game, the game would be tied at 26.

After Scott City (11-6, 4-3 GWAC) led 30-28 with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter, Colby went on an 8-2 run to lead 36-32 with 1:26 left in the third period. The Beavers would rally for five straight to lead 37-36 with 10 seconds remaining in the period, but the Eagles hit a pair of free throws late to go up 38-37, heading into the fourth quarter. They never trailed the rest of the night. Colby (10-7, 4-3) scored the first four points of the quarter, and never led by fewer than four the rest of the night. An 8-0 run over two minutes in the fourth quarter pushed the Eagle lead to 55-43 with 1:22 left. Scott City would get to within eight at 58-50, but Colby proved to be too much in the end.

Gage Winger led the charge with 21 points, Ryan Myers had nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Calvin Stapp had 10 points to lead Colby. The Eagles went 18-20 from the foul line and had only six turnovers. Hunter Yager led Scott City with 17 points, 14 coming in the second quarter, Marshall Faurot had 11 and Jackson Lewis returned to the lineup and finished with 10. The Beavers were 9-11 from the line and had 11 turnovers.

With the win, Colby snapped a 21-game losing streak to Scott City that dated back to January 23, 2009. They also won their first league game against the Beavers since 1996, when both teams were in the Northwest Kansas League, and won in Scott City against the Beavers for the first time since 2002.

Both teams are in a three-way tie for second in the league standings, and Scott City leads Colby by one game for second place in the sub-state standings. Larned leads by a half a game over Scott City and the Beavers lead Hugoton by a half a game for second place.

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame