Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians brought the heat to the JCBank Holiday Tournament championship game, claiming a 71-60 victory over the Greenwood Woodmen. The matchup, hosted by Greenwood High School, showcased stellar offensive play and defensive resilience from the Olympians, who turned their holiday cheer into hardwood dominance. First Quarter Fireworks The Olympians wasted no time getting into a rhythm, lighting up the scoreboard with 19 points in the first quarter. Impressively, all five starters contributed, setting the tone for a balanced attack. Juniors Carter Patterson and Keaton Lawson spearheaded the effort, scoring eight and six points respectively. Despite the Woodmen’s attempts to keep pace, Columbus East ended the quarter with a narrow 19-17 lead. Second Quarter Surge The Olympians found another gear in the second quarter, both offensively and defensively. They held the Woodmen to just 10 points while racking up 20 of their own. Senior Mason Reeves caught fire, scoring 10 points in the period, while Patterson chipped in another six. By halftime, the Olympians had built a comfortable 39-27 lead, with Patterson leading all scorers with 14 points and Reeves close behind with 10. A Third Quarter Challenge Coming out of the break, the Olympians hit a rough patch. They posted their lowest scoring quarter of the night with just 12 points, while Greenwood came alive with a 19-point burst. The Woodmen trimmed Columbus East’s 12-point lead to just five by the end of the quarter, making it a 51-46 game. Reeves kept the Olympians afloat with another 10-point quarter, showing why he’s a crucial piece of the team’s success. Fourth Quarter Finish The Olympians regained their offensive intensity in the final frame, with Patterson and Lawson each pouring in nine points. Columbus East’s composure at the free-throw line was key, as they sank six of seven attempts in the quarter to fend off the Woodmen’s comeback attempts. The Olympians closed out the game with a decisive 71-60 victory, cementing their status as tournament champions. By the Numbers Six Olympians contributed to the scoring effort, with three players reaching double figures: Carter Patterson: 25 points (2 three-pointers, 8 two-pointers, 3-5 free throws) Mason Reeves: 22 points (4 three-pointers, 2 two-pointers, 6-9 free throws) Keaton Lawson: 17 points (7 two-pointers, 3-4 free throws) Ethan Bumbalough: 3 points (1 three-pointer) Alex Duncan and Danny Coriden: 2 points each Looking Ahead The Olympians will have little time to rest as they prepare to hit the road again for a matchup against the Mooresville Pioneers on Friday, January 3. The Pioneers, sitting at 5-3 (pending the result of a December 28 game), will provide another test for the 7-1 Olympians.