Hornets drop Bulldogs
The Colby Hornets girls basketball team lost to Eastern Cloverbelt rivals Neillsville and Spencer last week, but snapped a three game losing streak in fitting fashion, defeating the Granton Bulldogs at home on Senior Night.
76-23
Feb. 8 was a rough night for Colby as the Hornets found themselves in Neillsville. The Warriors are ranked eighth in the state in D-4, and are now 16-0 in league play after stopping Colby 76-23.
Neillsville was out to prove a point after the Hornets held the Warriors below their season average in their first meeting. Neillville took a 55-12 lead into the locker room, and then put in their subs for the second half.
Colby gave up 21 points in the last stanza, but only managed 11 points. Hayden Willner had a team high seven points and Kya Viegut tallied six. Alexis Vanderhoof added four points, Kylie Orth scored three points, Trisha Vanderhoof had two points and Harrison Schmitt chipped in with one point.
59-36
Colby had no answer to Spencer’s Heavyn Kind on Friday, and even playing at home did the Hornets no favors. Kind dropped 35 points on Colby, scoring over half of the Rockets’ points.
The rest of Spencer though? Not nearly as outstanding as Kind. The Hornets did not allow another Rocket to score more than eight points. Colby had six players score in the first half. However, Kind dropped 18 points on Colby to give Spencer a 31-16 lead after one half.
The Hornets continued to spread the ball around in the second, while Spencer relied on Kind’s firepower. It proved enough as Colby was out-scored 28-20 in the second half.
Kya Viegut led Colby with eight points and Alexis Vanderhoof finished with seven points. Angelique Hernandez added five points to Colby’s cause.
Brett Schmitt, Trisha Vanderhoof and Hayden Willner all had four points. Kylie Orth and Savana Thomsen had two points apiece.
51-18
Playing in what is likely their final home game, the Colby Hornets seniors led the charge in their meeting with the Granton Bulldogs on Monday night.
Colby raced out to a 38-7 result in the first half keyed by some deep threes from Brett Schmitt and Kya Viegut. Baskets by Hayden Willner and Angelique Hernandez followed, and head coach Terry Schmitt spent much of the game using various line-ups, including having all his freshmen on the floor in the final minutes.
The ‘Dogs made some noise in the second half, but Colby’s lead was too much to overcome, especially on a night when nearly every player scored.
Viegut led all players with 12 points in limited minutes, Willner scored six more and Hernandes finished with five points. Alexis Vanderhoof, Harrison Schmitt, Dakota Hoeper, Trisha Vanderhoof and Kylie Orth all collected four points apiece.
Brett Schmitt finished with three points, Olivia Krause and Savana Thomsen tallied two points and Hannah Trush had one point.
The Hornets get one more game in before the playoffs, a to be determined match-up in the Cloverbelt Crossover this Thursday, and then the playoffs begin. Colby drew the ninth seed and will play eighth seeded Princeton/Green Lake on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Should the Hornets win over the Tigersharks, a match with number one seed, and potential state qualifier, Westfield awaits.
