Jones Erupts for 40 as Colby Boys Dominate Larned in New Year Opener
January 2, 2026
The Colby Eagles boys basketball team turned a slow start into a statement victory Friday night, overwhelming the Larned Indians 75–51 at the Colby Event Center behind relentless defensive pressure and a historic individual performance from Jordan Jones.
Coming out of the holiday break, both teams showed early signs of rust. Colby struggled to find an offensive rhythm through the first five minutes of the opening quarter, with shots rimming out and possessions ending without clean looks. Larned took advantage of the sluggish start, briefly building momentum as the Eagles worked to settle in.
That changed quickly once Jones found his groove. The senior guard erupted late in the first quarter, scoring nine points and drilling a three-pointer that gave Colby its first lead of the night. That surge flipped the tone of the game, and the Eagles closed the quarter ahead 13–8 after weathering the early lull.
The second quarter opened much like the first, with sloppy play on both sides. Colby committed a turnover and picked up a pair of quick fouls, allowing Larned to reclaim the lead at 15–13. Offensive possessions became stagnant again, and with four minutes remaining in the half, the Eagles trailed 19–15.
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From that point on, Colby took control. Cody Wright knocked down a timely three-pointer to spark the offense, and the Eagles began winning the effort plays that define momentum. Back-to-back offensive rebounds led to putback scores, while steals at midcourt turned into quick points on the other end. With 1:23 left before halftime, Colby had opened up a 29–20 advantage.
The second quarter also featured some highlight moments that energized the crowd. Cobin Curry threw down a putback dunk, Jones came up with multiple steals, and he capped the defensive stand with a big block in the paint. By halftime, Colby had turned defensive pressure into separation, carrying a 31–22 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets, but Colby’s defensive intensity kept Larned from making a serious run. With 3:51 left in the period, the Eagles held a 42–30 lead, continuing to generate second-chance opportunities and winning the hustle categories. Jones continued to score from all three levels, pushing his total to 29 points as the quarter wound down.
A late foul allowed Larned to trim the margin just before the buzzer, but Colby still entered the fourth quarter up 51–41, firmly in control. From there, the Eagles left no doubt.
Colby opened the final period with the same pressure that defined the second half, diving for loose balls, jumping passing lanes, and converting turnovers into points. The lead ballooned to 19 points with 2:44 remaining as the Eagles overwhelmed Larned with pace and physicality.
Jones was the centerpiece of it all. Playing with visible purpose, he attacked relentlessly, defended with intensity, and scored from everywhere on the floor. He crossed the 40-point mark late in the fourth quarter, drawing a standing ovation as head coach Reed Stephens pulled him in the final minute. Jones finished with 40 points in a performance that will be remembered for years in Colby.
Colby’s scoring balance behind Jones reflected a complete team effort. Josiah Hoppe added 11 points, Wright finished with seven, Curry scored six, Nathan Cates chipped in four, Kaleb Dixon had three, Adyen Joslyn scored two, and Kade Youngman added two.
After the game, Jones downplayed any single moment standing above the rest, instead pointing to how the night unfolded naturally as Colby settled in. “There’s not necessarily a basket that stands out, but I did think it was pretty cool that the shot I took to reach the 40 point mark was a midrange jumper just because that’s kinda my shot,” Jones said. “Yeah it felt good. Sometimes when you’re playing a new team it’s a little hard to get in a rhythm, so it just took a little for me and the team to kinda feel them out and get comfortable. Once we did that, I mean the momentum just kept building.”
Scoring by quarter told the story of Colby’s dominance after settling in: the Eagles led 13–8 after one, 31–22 at halftime, 51–41 after three, and pulled away for the 75–51 decisive win.
Head coach Reed Stephens credited the team’s defensive approach for the runaway finish. “I think the run we made is a credit to the pressure defense we were able to put on them, especially in the second half,” Stephens said. “We used that to our advantage to get some easier looks and really jumpstart us on offense.”
Stephens also reflected on Jones’ historic night. “Jordan is a special player. He is capable of having that kind of game at any time,” he said. “It’s not every day you get to see a 40-point game by a high school player, so that was really special, and it just so happened to be the same night he got his 1,000th point. That’s a milestone he’ll look back on as a testament to the career he’s had.”
With the blowout win, the Colby Eagles sent a clear message to open the New Year, pairing effort with execution and setting the tone for the stretch ahead. Next up, the Eagles will travel to Hoxie on Tuesday.