Lady Eagles Grind Out One-Point Win Over Larned to Open New Year
January 2, 2026
The Colby Lady Eagles opened the New Year with a hard-earned, one-point victory Friday night, battling through adversity, defensive pressure, and late-game tension to secure a 36–35 win over the visiting Larned Indians at the Colby Event Center.
Coming off the holiday break, the game had all the markings of a midseason reset. Both teams needed time to settle in, trading baskets early and testing each other’s defensive discipline. With six minutes left in the first half, the score stood at 12–11, and while the pace was methodical, Colby showed improved offensive rhythm compared to its final game before the break. The Lady Eagles moved the ball effectively, created quality looks, and stayed composed against Larned’s aggressive man-to-man defense.
Despite those positives, mistakes proved costly late in the half. Colby briefly held momentum before Larned capitalized on defensive pressure and free-throw opportunities, allowing the visitors to edge ahead 20–17 at halftime. The Lady Eagles entered the locker room knowing adjustments were needed, but also confident the game remained within reach.
The third quarter tested that belief. Colby came out flat, and several miscues turned into points on the other end. Still, the Lady Eagles responded with resilience. A timely three-pointer midway through the quarter stopped the slide and brought Colby back within striking distance. Harper Vaughn followed with a critical shot as the shot clock expired, giving Colby a 28–27 lead with three minutes left in the period. That basket proved to be a momentum swing, and Colby carried the one-point edge into the fourth quarter.
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The final eight minutes delivered everything a Friday night crowd could ask for. With the score tied at 30–30, both teams slowed the tempo, possessions became deliberate, and defensive intensity increased. Larned continued to be disruptive, but Colby answered when it mattered most. Back-to-back three-pointers from Emily Flanagin and Shaylee Holzmeister ignited the gym and pushed the Lady Eagles in front, 36–32, with just over three minutes remaining.
From there, the game tightened again. Colby’s offense stalled, but the defense held firm. With one possession remaining and a one-point lead, the Lady Eagles delivered their best defensive stand of the night, forcing a turnover with just 3.2 seconds left. Colby calmly inbounded the ball, allowed the final seconds to expire, and sealed a gritty 36–35 victory.
Shaylee Holzmeister led Colby with 12 points, anchoring the effort on both ends of the floor. Flanagin added eight points, including two crucial three-pointers, while Vaughn contributed seven points highlighted by her clutch third-quarter basket. Sadie Cheney scored four points, Maddie McCarty added three, and Kalyssa White chipped in two.
Scoring by quarter reflected the back-and-forth nature of the contest: Colby trailed 11–9 after the first quarter and 20–18 at halftime before taking a 28–27 lead into the fourth and finishing on top. Their success would later be attributed to the teams ball movement, with head coach Yancey Walker concluding, “we made 15 baskets in the game and 14 of those baskets came off an assist. Over 93% of our baskets were set up by a teammate.”
Walker praised his team’s resolve following the win. “I felt as though our girls fought to earn their success in the game,” Walker said. “They stayed focused on the task at hand and kept fighting no matter what the score was. We talked about the fact that there would be at least one play during the game that we could look back on and say that is why we had success, and I thought we controlled the moments during the game that led to our success.”
Walker also pointed to key defensive metrics despite struggles at the free-throw line. “The obvious stat is that we didn’t shoot well from the free throw line, but defensively, we outrebounded them by two overall and we held them to 11 percent from the three-point line,” he said.
The win gives the Colby Lady Eagles a strong foundation heading into a quick turnaround, as they prepare for a challenging road matchup at Hoxie on Tuesday evening. If Friday night was any indication, Colby has the toughness and composure needed to build momentum as the season progresses.