Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympian boys basketball team showed grit, composure, and star power Friday night in Scottsburg, outlasting the Warriors 76–68 in overtime in a game that tested every ounce of resolve the Olympians had. Judah Lewis and Keaton Lawson carried the offensive load and then some. Lewis was simply electric, pouring in a game-high 30 points, while Lawson wasn’t far behind with 28. When the game tightened and the pressure peaked, the ball found the right hands—and the Olympians trusted their leaders. Regulation ended in dramatic fashion. Holding a two-point lead in the final seconds, Lawson blocked a Scottsburg shot, but the ball ricocheted right back to a Warrior player, who gathered and banked in the tying basket in one continuous motion as time expired. It was a gut punch moment—but East didn’t flinch. Overtime belonged to the Olympians. Lewis and Lawson took complete control, combining for 13 points as Columbus East outscored Scottsburg 14–6 in the extra frame to secure the road victory. It was leadership in its purest form—confident, aggressive, and unrelenting. Logan Neal and Graham Preizer each chipped in six points, Ben Ellegood added four, and Carson Gallion rounded out the scoring with two. The win was even more impressive considering the circumstances. The Olympians are currently without two starters for the foreseeable future, as Carter Patterson and Tony Cowan are both sidelined with broken arms and no timetable for return. Despite the adversity, East continues to find answers. On the junior varsity side, the Olympians left no doubt, rolling to a convincing 74–42 victory. Seven players found the scoring column, led by Miles Broaddus, who poured in 21 points in just three quarters of action. Jacob Thomas followed with 18 points, Ridge Koester added 16, and Jax Branaman contributed 10. Connor Rodarte scored five, while Kam Robertson and Hudson Lay each added two. Friday night also marked a major milestone, as senior Keaton Lawson surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his Olympian career—an achievement that reflects years of consistency, work ethic, and big-game performances. Columbus East was scheduled to travel Saturday(1/24) to face HHC opponent Jeffersonville, but due to the impending snowstorm, that game has been rescheduled for February 21. The Olympians will next be back on the road Friday, January 30, when they travel to East Central High School, carrying momentum, confidence, and a belief that no matter the challenge, they’re built to respond.