Columbus East High School

If you're familiar with Indiana high school basketball, you might have come across the term "Old-Fashioned Barn-Burner." If not, let me tell you about last night's intense varsity matchup between the Olympians and Purdue Polytech Techies, which exemplified just that in The Orange Pit. Starting with a halftime deficit of 31-30, the Olympians found themselves falling further behind in the 3rd quarter and struggled to regain the lead until the late 4th quarter. A surge in defensive efforts, coupled with an outstanding offensive display by senior Messiah Trapp, who achieved a career-high 15 points, allowed the Olympians to tie the game 50-50 by the end of regulation. Continuing their intensified defensive pressure into overtime, the Olympians capitalized on several turnovers, stifling the Techies' offense, and ultimately sealed the victory with a 57-50 score. The Olympians kept the game close in the first half, largely due to the exceptional offensive performance by senior Madelyn Poe, who secured 15 points in the first half, ending with a game-high 22 points. Senior Victoria Cuhadar's outstanding defensive contribution in the 4th quarter, alongside consistent gameplay by senior Jenna Guse, showcased remarkable leadership when the Olympians needed it most. Looking ahead, the Olympians have a few practice days to enhance their offensive consistency before their upcoming game against the Bloomington South Panthers on Saturday, November 4th. The action kicks off with the JV game at noon, followed by the varsity game at 1:30 p.m. in The Orange Pit. Scoring for the Olympians - Kenzie Cheek-3, Jenna Guse-10, Victoria Cuhadar-3, Messiah Trapp-15, Caroline Frost-2, Madelyn Poe-22, and Savanna Sullivan-2. Three-pointers - Poe-2, Cheek-1, and Guse-1.