Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys basketball team is one step closer to ending a decades-long sectional championship drought after a dominant 75-51 victory over Franklin in the IHSAA sectional semifinals at the Orange Pit on Friday night. The Olympians will now face Whiteland (13-11) in the sectional championship game Saturday at 7 p.m. The 1995-96 Columbus East basketball team, coached by Ty Platt, defeated Southwestern(Shelbyville) 73-52 in the Sectional final March 2nd, 1996 @ CNHS. The Olympians finished the 1996 season with a 14-10 record. You would have to go back to the 1990 season to find another Sectional title for the O's. Coming off an impressive opening-round win against Columbus North, East carried that momentum into Friday’s matchup, ensuring there was no letdown. After falling behind 13-8 midway through the first quarter, the Olympians responded with a 15-2 run to take control. They closed the first half with another surge, scoring 14 unanswered points to build a commanding 39-20 halftime lead. East’s offensive attack was fueled by sharpshooting and strong rebounding. Keaton Lawson delivered a standout performance, finishing with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Danny Coriden provided a major boost off the bench, knocking down a career-high six three-pointers to match Lawson’s scoring total. Carter Patterson added 16 points, while Judah Lewis chipped in 11. The Olympians dominated the boards, outrebounding Franklin 39-24, and limited the Grizzly Cubs to just 30 points through three quarters. With the game in hand, East’s starters were able to get some rest in the final period. Franklin had struggled against East earlier in the season, falling 64-50 in December, and the Olympians once again proved too tough to handle. Now, East turns its focus to Whiteland, a team it defeated 77-67 in November. However, the Olympians may be without senior forward Alex Duncan, who suffered a knee injury early in Friday’s game. His status remains uncertain for the final. Whiteland is currently on a six game winning streak and playing some of their best basketball of the season. With a sectional title within reach for the first time since 1996, East looks to carry its strong postseason play into Saturday’s championship matchup and bring home a long-awaited trophy. Scoring for the Olympians: Keaton Lawson: 18 points - 7 FG's and 4-7 FT Danny Coriden: 18 points - 6 - 3pts Carter Patterson: 16 points - 7 FG's and 2-4 FT Judah Lewis: 11 points - 4 FG's and 1- 3pts Ethan Bumbalough: 6 points - 2-3pts Ben Ellegood: 2 points - 1 FG Tony Cowan: 2 points - 2-2 FT Logan Neal: 2 points - 1 FG Columbus East buried 9 three-pointers in the game, six of those coming from senior Danny Coriden. Tonight's Sectional championship game will see the door open for spectators at 6 p.m. Online ticket sales can be purchased here: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=117163 Concessions will be available- cash only. Columbus East students will once again have the opportunity to attend the game tonight for free. Tickets will be handed out at the gate tomorrow night. Be prepared to show your student ID for claim your ticket. Once again, doors open at 6 p.m. Let's Pack the Orange Pit Saturday night!