Columbus East High School

In a challenging road matchup, the Columbus East girls basketball team faced off against Hoosier Hills Conference rival New Albany on Saturday afternoon, ultimately falling 63-44. Despite a spirited effort, the Olympians couldn’t overcome a sluggish start and a dominant third-quarter surge by the Bulldogs. New Albany jumped out to an early lead, outscoring Columbus East 13-5 in the first quarter. Ella Anthis provided a spark for the Olympians, hitting a three-pointer to lead the team’s early scoring efforts. The Olympians found their rhythm in the second quarter, with five different players contributing to the scoreboard. Leading the charge were Kenzie Cheek and Kimberly Carothers, each scoring seven points in the quarter. This balanced attack allowed Columbus East to narrow the deficit to just six points by halftime, trailing 30-24. However, the third quarter proved to be the decisive moment in the game. New Albany unleashed an offensive onslaught, racking up 21 points while holding the Olympians to just 10. Carothers continued to lead her team with six points in the period, but the Bulldogs’ explosive run gave them a commanding 51-34 lead heading into the final quarter. The Olympians battled defensively in the fourth, limiting New Albany to 12 points, but the deficit was too large to overcome. When the final buzzer sounded, Columbus East had fallen 63-44. Individual Scoring for the Olympians - Kimberly Carothers led the Olympians with 14 points. - Kenzie Cheek added 12 points. - Ella Anthis contributed 7 points. - Averie Graham chipped in 5 points. - Jaydalynn Hampton scored 4 points. - Ellie Schlaudroff rounded out the scoring with 2 points. Next Up: The Olympians have a few days to regroup before returning to action on Thursday, January 23, when they host another tough Hoosier Hills Conference opponent, the Jennings County Panthers, in the Orange Pit. Jennings County, after starting the season 3-5, has rebounded impressively, posting a 12-6 record and remaining in contention for the conference title alongside Floyd Central. Then host former HHC team, the Madison Cubs, on Saturday, January 25th in the Orange Pit.