Lady Eagles Close Regular Season with 40-28 Road Loss to Hugoton
February 20, 2026
The Colby High School Lady Eagles closed out their regular season Friday night with a 40-28 loss at Hugoton in a tightly contested road matchup between two evenly matched squads.
Colby entered the contest at 12-9, while Hugoton stood at 13-9, setting the stage for a competitive battle. The Lady Eagles came out strong in the opening quarter, controlling the tempo early and building a 10-8 lead by the end of the first period.
Sadie Cheney provided the early spark, scoring the first points of the game and accounting for all three of Colby’s initial points from the floor and free throw line. Shaylee Holzmeister added key production on the offensive glass, converting a put-back basket midway through the first quarter to keep Colby in front.
The second quarter remained a back-and-forth affair. Holzmeister knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at eight, and later added another basket inside as Colby worked to counter Hugoton’s perimeter shooting and transition play. At halftime, the Lady Eagles trailed by just two, 18-16, keeping themselves well within striking distance.
The Sunflower Stadard is proudly supported by
The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Colby managed only two field goals during the period, while Hugoton capitalized on second-chance opportunities and timely three-point shooting. A buzzer-beating basket at the end of the third extended Hugoton’s lead to 30-20 and shifted momentum firmly in the home team’s favor.
Despite the deficit, Colby continued to battle in the fourth quarter. Harper Vaughn connected on a three-pointer from the corner to cut the lead to single digits, and Holzmeister continued to attack the boards and draw fouls. However, Hugoton controlled the clock down the stretch and converted at the free-throw line to secure the 40-28 victory.
Holzmeister led the Lady Eagles with 10 points, followed by Vaughn with 8 and Cheney with 7. Fia Tubbs and Kalyssa White added scoring contributions as well.
With the regular season now complete, Colby shifts its focus to postseason play next week. The Lady Eagles will open sub-state action on the road in Hoisington, where every possession and every opportunity will carry heightened importance.
Though the season finale did not end in their favor, Colby showed flashes of strong defensive effort and interior presence. As tournament play approaches, the Lady Eagles will look to regroup, refine their execution, and make a run when it matters most.