Eagles Grind Out Gritty Road Win at Goodland, Edge Cowgirls 23–20
January 13, 2026
The Colby High School girls’ basketball team passed a demanding road test on January 13, grinding out a hard-fought 23–20 win over the Goodland Cowgirls in a game defined by defensive intensity, physical play, and mental toughness.
From the opening tip inside the Max Jones Fieldhouse, the contest unfolded as a battle of pressure and persistence rather than offensive rhythm. Both teams struggled to secure clean possessions, with aggressive ball pressure leading to turnovers, loose balls, and bodies hitting the floor. Colby managed to settle in just enough during the opening minutes, knocking down a pair of early outside shots to jump out to a 7–2 first-quarter lead.
The pace and tone of the game remained unchanged in the second quarter. Goodland continued to pressure the ball relentlessly, while Colby countered with disciplined team defense that limited clean looks. Scoring was scarce on both sides, but the Eagles’ ability to string together timely stops allowed them to carry a 15–7 lead into halftime.
After the game, Colby head coach Yancey Walker credited both teams for staying true to their identities throughout the contest.
“First of all, Goodland has been the consistent standard in our league since I arrived at CHS,” Walker said. “They are well coached, and they have good players who do their jobs exceedingly well. They played to their strengths, and we played to ours.”
The third quarter saw Colby briefly extend its advantage, building an 18–8 lead midway through the period. Sadie Cheney led the Eagles offensively at that point, while the defense continued to force contested shots. However, the Cowgirls responded with a late push, using pressure and second-chance opportunities to cut the deficit to just three points by the end of the quarter.
As expected, the fourth quarter became a test of composure. Goodland’s pressure intensified, and Colby’s offense grew stagnant, allowing the Cowgirls to claw back into the game. When Goodland briefly took a one-point lead late in the quarter, the momentum shifted and the home crowd came alive.
Walker said he was proud of how his team handled that moment.
“I was proud that our girls came out with a high level of concentration and focus,” he said. “For the most part, we completed our defensive assignments. I was proud of how our young ladies responded when Goodland took the lead in the 4th quarter.”
Colby answered with toughness. Shaylee Holzmeister attacked the paint, drawing fouls and converting crucial free throws down the stretch. Defensively, Kalyssa White forced a jump ball, and Cheney stepped in to draw a key charge that swung possession back to the Eagles. Each stop and free throw mattered in a game where every point was earned.
Holzmeister led Colby with eight points, doing much of her damage at the free throw line late. Cheney finished with six points and provided steady leadership on both ends. Emily Flanagin and Harper Vaughn each scored three points, White added two, and Maddie McCarty chipped in one to complete the scoring.
Despite Goodland’s relentless effort, Colby found a way to close out the final seconds and secure the three-point road victory.
“We found a way to have success in a physical game against a good team on their home court,” Walker said. “We talk about growing as a team and we grew between the Hoxie game and the Goodland game.”
The win may not have been pretty, but it was significant. Against one of the league’s perennial benchmarks, Colby showed growth, resilience, and the ability to execute under pressure, traits that could pay dividends as the season moves forward.