Eagles Rally Late but Fall at Garden City
January 27, 2026
The Colby High School Eagles pushed a larger 6A opponent deep into the fourth quarter Tuesday night but ultimately fell 71–65 on the road against Garden City High School. After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Eagles rallied behind strong interior play and defensive pressure to make it a one-possession game late before Garden City closed out the win at the free-throw line.
Colby trailed early after a slow offensive start and found itself playing from behind most of the night against the Buffaloes. Despite the deficit, the Eagles continued to battle and cut a double-digit second-half margin to just four points in the final minutes.
The opening quarter was physical and low-scoring, with both teams struggling to convert early possessions. Garden City scored the first basket on a transition layup, while Colby answered behind interior scoring from Josiah Hoppe. Turnovers on both sides limited rhythm, and neither team was able to establish consistent flow. Garden City used free throws late in the quarter to take a narrow 10–8 lead after one.
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In the second quarter, Garden City began to separate itself with perimeter shooting and capitalized on Colby turnovers. The Buffaloes knocked down several three-pointers and converted multiple transition opportunities to build a double-digit lead. Colby continued to find success inside through Hoppe and Jordan Jones, but struggled to string together stops on the defensive end. At halftime, Garden City held a 34–20 advantage.
Colby showed renewed energy coming out of the locker room. Jones attacked off the dribble and scored in the lane, while Hoppe controlled the glass on both ends. The Eagles cut into the margin midway through the third quarter, trimming the deficit to single digits after a strong stretch of defensive rebounds and second-chance points. Garden City responded by continuing to move the ball effectively and score from the perimeter, maintaining a 43–34 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Eagles made their strongest push in the final period. Hoppe was dominant inside, scoring on putbacks and drawing fouls, while Jones knocked down key baskets in transition. Colby forced turnovers and turned them into quick points, cutting the lead to five with just over three minutes remaining. Moments later, the Eagles pulled within four as pressure defense disrupted Garden City’s rhythm.
Each time Colby closed the gap, Garden City answered at the free-throw line. The Buffaloes converted key foul shots down the stretch to halt Colby’s momentum and prevent the Eagles from taking the lead. Jones continued to attack and score late, but Garden City maintained composure and sealed the game with free throws in the final seconds.
Hoppe led Colby with a strong all-around performance, finishing with a double-double as he controlled the boards and provided consistent scoring in the paint. Jones also scored in double figures and sparked the Eagles’ late rally, while Nathan Cates and Cody Wright added timely baskets during the comeback attempts.
The Colby High School Eagles pushed a larger 6A opponent deep into the fourth quarter Tuesday night but ultimately fell 71–65 on the road against Garden City High School. After trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Eagles rallied behind strong interior play and defensive pressure to make it a one-possession game late before Garden City closed out the win at the free-throw line.