Colby High School Eagles Advance with 67-54 Sub-State Win over Norton Bluejays

Postseason basketball returned to the Colby Event Center on February 26, and the Eagles responded with one of their most complete performances of the season, defeating Norton 67-54 to advance in sub-state play.

Colby led 28-25 at halftime in a tightly contested first half. Jordan Jones set the tone early with 11 first-half points, attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact. Josiah Hoppe added eight points before the break, doing much of his work around the rim and on second-chance opportunities. Cody Wright chipped in five first-half points, while Cobin Curry added four as the Eagles built a narrow advantage.

Jones came out of the locker room aggressive and decisive. He scored repeatedly off the bounce, pulled up in the midrange, and converted in transition. By the 1:05 mark of the third quarter, he had reached 22 points after knocking down a three-pointer that stretched the lead to 47-38.

Hoppe continued to control the paint. He cleaned up misses with putbacks and finished strong through traffic, reaching double figures during the third period. Nathan Cates provided a key spark, scoring on a strong drive and earning a three-point play opportunity that helped push momentum squarely in Colby’s favor. Wright added a transition layup as the Eagles closed the quarter ahead 47-38.

Then the fourth quarter became a showcase for Jones.

He moved past 24 points early in the period, then reached 26 on another backdoor finish. Midway through the quarter, he buried a three-pointer that pushed him beyond the 30-point mark, ultimately finishing with 33 points on the night. It was a senior performance on senior night—poised, confident, and relentless.

Wright continued to impact the game in transition and at the free throw line, finishing with 10 points. Hoppe totaled 12 points and provided a steady presence on the glass, securing defensive rebounds that prevented Norton from building second-chance momentum. Cates finished with five points, and Curry added four, all in the first half.

Defensively, the Eagles tightened the screws in the second half. They forced turnovers that led directly to transition baskets and limited Norton’s rhythm offensively. Colby built its largest lead at 12 points in the fourth quarter and never allowed the Bluejays to mount a serious comeback.

For Norton, Hudson Wicker led the way with 15 points, while Murray added nine, Bailey finished with nine, Brooks scored eight, and Rice contributed seven.

When the final buzzer sounded, Colby had secured a 67-54 victory and a ticket to the next round of sub-state.

For a team that has relied on balanced scoring, defensive discipline, and big-game composure all season, Thursday night was a reminder of what this group is capable of when everything clicks. The postseason path continues, and the Eagles are playing their best basketball at exactly the right time.

by Derek White