Colby boys drop heartbreaker to Warriors
The Colby Hornets Eastern Cloverbelt title hopes took a shot after they dropped a 68-62 home game to the Neillsville Warriors on Monday night.
The heartache at home is likely compounded by the fact the Hornets led by as much as 13 points in the first half, and 11 points in the second half only to see those leads dwindle after Colby endured a brutal, minutes long scoring drought that the Warriors used to get back into the game.
The two teams traded points and big shots down the stretch, but the Warriors got the stops and buckets when they needed them, escaping from Colby’s clutches in the final minutes. Colby saw a three game win streak snap, and drops to 4-2 overall, and 4-1 in league play.
The Warriors drew first blood in the first half, and Colby trailed 7-2 before a three by Brody Decker and a steal and lay-up by Mateo Lopez got things on even terms.
A triple from Richard Streveler gave Colby its first lead at 12+10 with 11:47 left to go before halftime. Colby’s speed led to easy run-outs, and a runner in the paint, followed by a Tevin Rue three built the Hornet’s lead to 22-16 with 7:00 to go.
Rue played like a man possessed in the first half, and time and time again, his teammates found him open in the corner or the elbow for three. Rue splashed four triples in the first half, but his best shot was a twisting, 180 degree acrobatic spin that gave him 14 points in the first half.
But the Hornets began to play a bit sloppy at the tail end of the first half, and turnovers and cold shooting got the Warriors back within single digits, and Colby went into the locker room with a 40-33 lead.
Colby’s offense picked up where it left off in the second half. A jumper and three both from Wiese gave the Hornets a 47-36 advantage with 15:30 to play, but Colby’s offense went nearly lifeless midway through the second half.
The Hornets could not buy, beg or borrow a basket, and turnovers and rebounds and free throws allowed the Warriors to take a 51-49 lead with 8:45 to play.
That seemed to wake Colby up, who rediscovered their offense, but in the end, the Hornets managed just 22 points in the second half. The Warriors out-scored the Hornets 35-22, with Andrew Braun scoring a game high 26 points.
Colby had three players finish in double digits. Lopez led the Hornets with 16 points, followed by Rue, with 14, all in the first half. Richard Streveler added 12.
Wiese finished with seven points, Caden Healy had six points, Brody Decker scored five points and Brandon Voelker recorded two points.
57-43
A pesky Greyhound squad gave the Hornets fits in the second of their conference clash on last Friday.
The Hornets appeared to be in cruise control in the first half, racing out to a 33-19 point lead. That lead lulled Colby to sleep in the second half, and the Greyhounds pulled to within six points in the half before the Hornets finally woke up.
When they did, there was no turning Colby off as the Hornets gashed Loyal inside with repeated trips in the paint to keep their double digit cushion even with both teams scoring 24 points apiece in the last stanza.
Colby’s defense held most of Loyal in check, with Deegan Sandelier the lone Greyhound in double digits with 11.
Richard Streveler scored a team and game high for Colby, notching 17 points.
STAFF PHOTOS/ROSS PATTERMANN
He was joined in double figures by Brody Decker, who scored 15 points.
Kaden Wiese and Joe Streveler nearly joined the two in double digits, with each finishing with nine points. Mateo Lopez had five points in limited minutes, and senior Brandon Voelker pitched in with two points.
The Hornets will have plenty of time to think about their game with Neillsville, and Colby will not be back in action until Wednesday, Dec. 29, when they host Kohler. Tip-off will be at 2 p.m.
JUST DROPPING IN -Colby senior Brody Decker blows through a wall of Loyal defenders for two on Friday. Decker finished with 15 points.
