Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys basketball program wrapped up a demanding 24-hour road stretch Saturday night in Floyds Knob, but the quick turnaround proved costly as both the JV and varsity Olympians fell to Hoosier Hills Conference opponent Floyd Central. After traveling to Bedford North-Lawrence on Friday, the Olympians were back on the road less than a day later, facing a Highlander squad that set the tone early. The varsity O’s struggled to find their footing in the first half, falling behind 32–10 at the break, and were unable to close the gap in a 60–39 loss. Keaton Lawson led Columbus East with 16 points, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the night. Logan Neal followed with six points, while Carson Gallion added four. Tony Cowan and Graham Preizer each chipped in four points, Carson Siegelin scored three, and Josiah Kiel rounded out the scoring with two. The JV contest followed a similar script, with Floyd Central pulling away for a 61–48 victory. Miles Broaddus delivered a strong performance for the Olympians, pouring in 27 points to lead all scorers. Ridge Koester added eight points, Jacob Thomas scored six, Kamron Robertson and Jax Branaman each finished with three, and Zane Williams added one point. It wasn’t the outcome the Olympians were looking for, but the schedule offered little margin for error, and the challenge of back-to-back road games and a roster jumbled due to injuries showed. The focus now shifts forward. Columbus East returns home on Tuesday, January 13th, when the Olympians host the Shelbyville Golden Bears. JV action tips off at 6:00 p.m., with the varsity game to follow.