Hornets top Dons
The Colby Hornets girls basketball team has displayed a stout defense through the first half of the season. And it looks as though their offense is finally catching up to its defense.
The Hornets found a pattern of play that worked on Friday, feeding the ball inside and using their speed for points in transition as they dropped the Columbus Catholic Dons in Colby.
“We’ve been really working hard since last week on trying to get the offense to flow and match it with our intensity on defense,” Colby head coach Terry Schmitt said. “I saw that tonight. I’m so proud of these girls tonight.”
Five Hornets scored in the first half, keeping the Dons on their heels. Brett Schmitt nailed a three, and Savana Thomsen and Hayden Willner each had multiple buckets to guide Colby to a 20-11 lead at the break.
The Hornets continued to make shots and play lockdown defense in the second half. Schmitt nailed two treys, and Willner sped down the court for easy buckets thanks to accurate outlet passes.
“We haven’t done that all year, I think tonight we showed that we can actually push the ball up the court,” coach Schmitt said.
Willner and Schmitt led Colby with 14 and 11 points. Colby did not allow a single Don to score in double figures. The Hornets led by as much as 17 points in the second half, holding a 37-20 lead with less than five minutes to play.
Colby out-scored their rivals 22-16 in the second half for the 42-27 victory. The win gave Colby back to back wins for the first time this season. Coach Schmitt hopes the game sends a message.
“What it sends to them is confidence. They know now they can play with almost anybody in this conference, which I had believed a long time ago.”
Savana Thomsen and Alexis Vanderhoof had six points apiece, Kylie Orth had three and Kya Viegut added two.
Loyal, 52-36
The Colby Hornets played the Loyal Greyhounds for the first time this season, and that unfamiliarity may have given the Greyhounds the edge as they stopped Colby 52-36. Stats for the game were not available upon publication.
