Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians girls basketball team entered Tuesday night’s IHSAA Sectional tournament with little fanfare and even fewer expectations. With just one win all season and facing a Whiteland squad favored by eight points, many assumed their postseason run would be short-lived. Instead, the Olympians delivered their most complete performance of the year, playing four strong quarters to earn a thrilling 57-51 victory and advance to the sectional semifinals. A Complete Effort from Start to Finish Too often this season, Columbus East struggled to score consistently, falling into long droughts that led to insurmountable deficits. That wasn’t the case in this game. The Olympians found their rhythm early and kept the pressure on, scoring in double digits in all four quarters—something they rarely accomplished during the regular season. The game didn’t start in their favor, as Whiteland jumped out to an early lead. However, senior Ella Anthis set the tone with a strong first quarter, scoring seven of her game-high 21 points to keep Columbus East within striking distance. By the end of the period, the Olympians trailed just 16-13. Momentum carried over into the second quarter, where East outscored Whiteland 15-10 to take an unexpected 28-26 halftime lead. Anthis continued her hot shooting, while Kimberly Carothers and Krea Martin stepped up offensively. Suddenly, the Olympians found themselves in unfamiliar territory—leading at halftime in a postseason game. Holding Strong in the Second Half The third quarter turned into a defensive battle, with both teams tightening up. Columbus East managed just 11 points, but Whiteland only mustered 12, allowing the Olympians to maintain a 39-38 edge heading into the final period. Kenzie Cheek added 4 points and Martin knocked down a three pointer to keep the Olympians on top to start the 4th. Would the underdog Olympians let the game slip away? Not this time. Columbus East delivered one of their best fourth quarters of the season, outscoring Whiteland 19-13 down the stretch. Anthis added six clutch points, Carothers showed her poise at the free-throw line, going 7-for-8, and Martin buried two massive three-pointers to squash any hopes of a Whiteland comeback. Beyond their offensive success, the Olympians cleaned up two major weaknesses—turnovers and rebounding. They committed just eight turnovers and held their own on the boards, despite facing a taller Whiteland team. Looking Ahead: A Rivalry Showdown With their biggest win of the season secured, Columbus East now turns its attention to an even greater challenge—their crosstown rivals, Columbus North. The Bulldogs handed the Olympians a 62-33 loss in December. The O's know they have a big task at hand, but are looking forward to the challenge! The sectional semifinal tips off Friday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Columbus North. Can the Olympians keep their postseason run alive? One thing is certain—they’ve already shown that anything is possible. Scoring Breakdown: Ella Anthis – **21 points** (5 two-pointers, 2 three-pointers, 5-6 free throws) Kimberly Carothers – **14 points** (13-14 free throws, 1 two-pointer) Krea Martin – **14 points** (4 three-pointers, 1 two-pointer) Kenzie Cheek – **6 points** (3 two-pointers) Averie Graham – **2 points** (2-2 free throws) Congratulations, Olympians!