Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympian boys basketball team showcased their talent and determination with a perfect weekend, defeating Trinity Lutheran at home 83-61 on Friday night and taking down Class 2A #13 Southwestern Hanover on the road 71-55 Saturday night. Friday Night Dominance at the Orange Pit The Olympians wasted no time setting the tone in front of their home crowd, jumping to an explosive 33-9 first-quarter lead against Trinity Lutheran. Junior Keaton Lawson was unstoppable, scoring 23 points in the opening frame. Carter Patterson added 11 first-half points to propel East to a 42-24 halftime lead. However, the Olympians appeared to take their foot off the gas in the third quarter, allowing Trinity Lutheran to go on an 18-3 run and cut the lead to 44-31. Lawson reignited East’s offense with critical buckets, and senior Mason Reeves drained three clutch 3-pointers to restore control, helping East close the quarter with a commanding 64-47 lead. In the fourth quarter, Lawson continued his stellar night with support from Danny Coriden, Ethan Bumbalough, and Alex Duncan, sealing the victory. Lawson’s 44-point performance is believed to be a new Columbus East single-game scoring record, surpassing Austin Whitted’s 42 points, though this is still awaiting confirmation. Game Stats vs. Trinity Lutheran Keaton Lawson: 44 points Carter Patterson: 13 points Mason Reeves:11 points Danny Coriden: 6 points Grayson Watters: 3 points Ethan Bumbalough, Alex Duncan, and Jayden Thompson: 2 points each The Olympians connected on 10 three-pointers: Reeves (3), Lawson (3), Coriden (2), and Patterson (2). Breaking the Southwestern Hanover Streak On Saturday, East traveled to face Southwestern Hanover, who had defeated the Olympians in six consecutive seasons, including a 70-47 loss to the Rebels last season. This time, East emerged victorious with a 71-55 win. Despite trailing 20-18 after the first quarter, East rallied in the second quarter with balanced scoring from four players to take a 37-34 halftime lead. Senior Ethan Bumbalough led the first-half effort, sinking four 3-pointers. East’s defense stepped up in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter, as they pressured the Rebels into tough shots and converted seven of ten free throws to secure the win. Lawson led the way with 21 points, followed by Bumbalough with 20 points. Game Stats vs. Southwestern Hanover Keaton Lawson: 21 points Ethan Bumbalough: 20 points Carter Patterson: 14 points Mason Reeves: 12 points Alex Duncan and Jayden Thompson: 2 points each The Olympians drained 10 three-pointers: Bumbalough (4), Reeves (3), Lawson (2), and Patterson (1). Next Up for the Olympians The Olympians face a challenging weekend ahead with back-to-back games. On Friday, December 13th, they will host Hoosier Hills Conference opponent Bedford North-Lawrence, who comes in with a solid 2-1 record. On Saturday, December 14th, East will travel to face sectional rival Franklin Grizzly Cubs. Good luck, Olympians!