Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians earned a thrilling 55-49 victory over the Bedford North-Lawrence Stars on Friday night in the Orange Pit, marking their first Hoosier Hills Conference win since the 2021-22 season. The Olympians also snapped a five-year losing streak to the Stars in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. A Strong Start for the Olympians The Olympians took control early, fueled by an electrifying first quarter from junior Keaton Lawson, who scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the opening period. Columbus East’s aggressive man-to-man defense stifled the Stars, holding them to just 4 points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Olympians closed the quarter with a commanding 17-4 lead. In the second quarter, Columbus East continued its momentum. Lawson added 4 points, while Danny Coriden, Carter Patterson, and Jayden Thompson contributed clutch three-pointers. The Olympians extended their lead to 32-18 at halftime, with Lawson leading all scorers at the break with 14 points. Third Quarter: Holding Steady The Olympians maintained control in the third quarter, with Lawson adding 8 more points and Coriden sinking another three-pointer. East entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 48-31 advantage. However, a buzzer-beating three-pointer by BNL’s Patrick Maston at the end of the third quarter sparked a dramatic rally for the Stars. Fourth Quarter Drama BNL opened the final period with a scorching 21-3 run, fueled by Maston and a barrage of three-pointers, cutting East’s lead to 51-49 with just over a minute remaining. The Stars had a chance to tie the game, but Maston’s mid-range jumper missed, and Columbus East regained possession on a rebound. Mason Reeves provided crucial free throws with 30 seconds left to push the lead to 53-49. After two missed attempts by BNL, Lawson sealed the game with two more free throws, leaving 1.9 seconds on the clock and securing the 55-49 victory for the Olympians. Key Performers Keaton Lawson-Lead all scorers: 24 points (10 field goals, 4-of-5 free throws) Mason Reeves: 7 points, including clutch free throws in the final minute Danny Coriden: 6 points (2 three-pointers) Carter Patterson: 9 points (1 three-pointer) Jayden Thompson: 3 points (1 three-pointer) Scoring by Quarters Bedford North-Lawrence: 4 | 14 | 13 | 18 — 49 Columbus East: 17 | 15 | 16 | 7 — 55 Three-Point Goals Columbus East (5): Coriden 2, Reeves 1, Thompson 1, Patterson 1 The win was a testament to the Olympians’ resilience and team effort. While turnovers and mental mistakes in the fourth quarter nearly cost the O's the game, their early dominance and clutch free throws and a determined defense in the final moments paved the way for a solid victory. Next up, the Olympians look to build on this momentum as they head to Franklin, Indiana to take on the Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs. The Grizzly Cubs knocked off Greenwood High School 52-46 tonight and even their record to 3-3. Franklin has wins over Indian Creek, Decatur Central and Greenwood, with losses to Noblesville, Center Grove, and Seymour.