Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys basketball team wrapped up their regular season Thursday night at the Orange Pit, dropping a close contest to the Bishop Chatard Trojans. It was a tough night for the home crowd as both the JV and Varsity squads fell by slim margins. The Varsity Olympians kept the score tight but ultimately lost 59-56. The offense was largely a two-man show, with Carter Patterson netting 23 points and Keaton Lawson scoring 22. Other contributors included Ben Ellegood (4 points), Miles Broaddus (3 points), and Tony Cowan and Carson Gallion with 2 points each. In the JV game, East also struggled to pull ahead, losing 59-54. Jacob Thomas led the JV scoring with 18 points, followed by Ridge Koester with 16. Jax Branaman (8), Kam Robertson (6), Zane Williams (4), and Connor Rodarte (2) rounded out the box score. Postseason Reset Now, the page turns. The regular season is officially in the books, and the focus shifts to the postseason. The Olympians have seven days to regroup, get healthy, and lock in as they prepare for the opening round of the IHSAA State Tournament. Waiting on the other side? A familiar foe. IHSAA Sectional: East will square off with cross-town rival Columbus North on Friday, March 6 at Columbus North High School. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. It’s rivalry basketball in March — exactly where you want to be. Orange Nation, it’s time. Show up and show out. Good luck, Olympians.