Lady Eagles Battle Through Highs and Lows at 41st Orange and Black Classic
January 24, 2026
The Colby High School Lady Eagles hosted the 41st Annual Orange and Black Classic last week at the Colby Event Center, a three-game stretch that tested the team’s resilience, focus, and ability to respond to adversity. Facing Concordia, Beloit, and Ulysses over the course of the tournament, the Lady Eagles experienced early frustration before regrouping and closing the event with their strongest performance.
Colby opened tournament play on January 22 against Concordia and found itself fighting uphill from the opening tip. The Lady Eagles stumbled early offensively, falling behind before briefly grabbing a 4-3 lead. Concordia responded with a run, and Colby ended the first quarter trailing 12-6 after missing several free throws that could have kept the score closer.
The second quarter continued to be difficult for the Eagles, as Concordia’s tight defense disrupted ball movement and forced mistakes. Colby struggled to break through pressure, and despite multiple timeouts to settle the group, the Panthers extended their lead to 24-14 by halftime.
The third quarter offered little relief, with Concordia maintaining control and holding Colby to limited scoring. Entering the fourth quarter down 35-22, the Lady Eagles showed brief signs of life, trimming the deficit to 10 points with four minutes remaining, but could not sustain momentum. Concordia closed out the game, handing Colby a tough opening-round loss.
Game two against Beloit followed a similar script, with Colby once again playing from behind. The Lady Eagles trailed 26-14 midway through the second quarter and went into halftime down 33-20. While the score suggested a lopsided game, Colby remained competitive defensively and showed flashes of improved execution.
In the third quarter, Colby began to chip away, cutting the deficit to 12 points and giving the home crowd reason for optimism. That momentum stalled early in the fourth quarter, however, as the Eagles endured a prolonged scoring drought. Beloit capitalized with back-to-back three-pointers while Colby struggled to secure defensive rebounds and committed costly turnovers. The combination proved decisive, and the Lady Eagles dropped their second straight contest.
With two losses behind them, Colby entered the final game against Ulysses determined to change the narrative.
The difference was evident immediately.
Colby came out aggressive and locked in defensively, forcing turnovers and turning them into points. Early fouls drawn by Shaylee Holzmeister helped Colby jump out to a 4-0 lead, and the Eagles never looked back. A dominant first quarter saw Colby surge ahead 22-1, showcasing sharp ball movement, confident shooting, and relentless defensive pressure.
The Lady Eagles maintained control into halftime with a 30-7 lead, holding Ulysses to just seven first-half points. While Ulysses made adjustments in the third quarter and cut into the margin, Colby responded when it mattered most. Maddie McCarty delivered a momentum-swinging fourth quarter, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers and stabilizing the offense.
Colby closed the game with poise, coming up with key defensive stops and executing offensively down the stretch. The Lady Eagles secured a 59-37 victory, ending the Orange and Black Classic on a high note.
The tournament highlighted both the challenges and growth within the Colby program. Short-handed throughout the event, the Lady Eagles endured two difficult losses but responded with resilience, confidence, and mental toughness in the finale. Their performance against Ulysses served as a reminder of the team’s potential when focus, effort, and execution align.
