Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians secured a hard-fought victory Friday night in Madison, Indiana, narrowly escaping the Madison Cubs 54-52. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and was highlighted by a dramatic finish when junior Keaton Lawson’s driving layup in the closing seconds lifted the team from a 7-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Back and Forth Affair: In a game defined by its ebb and flow, the scorebook tells the story of Columbus East's narrow 54-52 win over the Madison Cubs—a contest where every quarter carried its own drama. The Olympians’ balanced attack featured contributions from seven different players, making the game a true team win! First Quarter – A Strong Start The Olympians jumped out to an early lead by scoring 13 points to the Cubs’ 6. This opening burst set the tone, with Columbus East establishing a comfortable advantage and showing early intent. Second Quarter – The Tide Turns As the game progressed into the second quarter, the momentum began to shift. The Cubs rallied by outscoring Columbus East 12 to 9, narrowing the lead and signaling that the contest was far from over. Third Quarter – The Battle Intensifies The third period went the Cubs way. Madison surged ahead with a 20-15 run, overtaking the Olympians by a slim margin heading into the final stretch. The 3rd quarter also saw the Cubs head to the foul line, a place they didn't visit in the 1st half. The Cubs had the slight advantage in fouls for the evening with the Cubs committing 11 foul on the night as compared to 17 fouls called on the Olympians. Fourth Quarter – The Comeback In the decisive final quarter, Columbus East refused to yield. With a 17-14 effort, the Olympians erased a 7-point deficit, turning pressure into points when it mattered most. The dramatic surge in the fourth quarter was enough to secure the win for the Olympians! Junior Keaton Lawson led the way with 14 points, including crucial scoring late(notably, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the second half and connected on 2-of-3 free throws in the 4th quarter). Senior Mason Reeves contributed 13 points, with key scoring coming in the second half. 2- 3 pointers in the second half. Junior Carter Patterson added 11 points, with an efficient mix of field goals and free throws—he nailed 5-of-5 from the line, including four in the final quarter. Senior Danny Coriden netted 8 points. Senior Ethan Bumbalough and Senior Alex Duncan chipped in 3 points each, while Freshman Logan Neal provided a 2-point spark. Junior Varsity Triumph In addition to the varsity win, the junior varsity squad delivered a solid performance, defeating their Madison counterparts 43-34. Sophomore Graham Preizer shined for the JV team, pouring in 24 points to lead the charge. Looking Ahead Columbus East will close out the regular season on Tuesday, February 25th, as they host the Greensburg Pirates at the Orange Pit. The JV contest kicks off at 6 p.m., with the varsity game to follow, as the Olympians aim to finish the season on a high note.