Columbus East High School

The Columbus East girls basketball team tips off a new season with renewed purpose and growing confidence under third-year head coach Kaitlyn Phillips. The Olympians will host Jennings County for a preseason scrimmage on Wednesday, October 29, before officially opening the regular season on Tuesday, November 4, against Purdue Polytechnic in the Orange Pit. East will then hit the road on Saturday, November 8, to face the Whiteland Warriors. Coming off two foundational years of cultural and roster development, Phillips believes the program is turning a corner. “The first few years in a new program are all about establishing a strong culture," Phillips said. “Our team culture is exactly where we want it. We have great kids who work hard on and off the court and genuinely support one another. Our staff and players have put a lot of hard work into this past off-season, and we feel confident about the direction of our program heading into year three. We have the right pieces in place — now it’s about continuing to grow and finding the best ways to bring everything together.” That growth will show in how the Olympians define their style of play. Phillips expects her group to bring energy and tempo to both ends of the floor. “This year’s group is built to play fast,” she said. “We want to push the pace offensively and keep pressure on our opponents by running the floor and staying aggressive. Defensively, our goal is to create chaos with energy, traps, and pressure. We’ve got an athletic group that can get up and down, compete on every possession, and do all the little things it takes to win.” Leadership and experience will also play a major role. The Olympians return several varsity contributors, led by captains Kenzie Cheek and Lola Watkins, who have anchored the team’s offseason efforts. “Our captains have done a great job with their work ethic and accountability,” Phillips said. “Along with four other varsity returners and a senior coming back from injury, they’ve provided experience and stability that’s been huge for our younger players. Their example has really helped establish the standard for what we expect every day.” One of the most encouraging developments for East has been the impact of a large and competitive freshman class. “Our freshman class is large, competitive, and eager to learn,” Phillips said. “They’ve brought great energy and really embraced the example set by our upperclassmen. We expect several freshmen to step into meaningful varsity roles this season and make an immediate impact.” The Hoosier Hills Conference remains one of the toughest leagues in the state, but Phillips sees a more competitive Olympian team ready to embrace the challenge. “The conference is always loaded with talent, including several future Division I players,” she said. “Every night is a challenge, but we expect to be much more competitive than in the past two seasons. Our first conference matchup against Floyd Central, a team that reached the semi-state championship last year and returns most of its roster, will be an early test for us. I’m excited to see how we’re playing by January when we hit a stretch of four key conference games.” Ultimately, Phillips wants her team to grow throughout the season and be peaking when tournament play arrives. “This season is unique because we’re blending the experience of our upperclassmen with the energy and grit of our freshmen,” she said. “Early on, our focus will be on helping the younger players adjust to the varsity level and finding the best combinations and rotations on the floor. As the season progresses, consistency in scoring will be a key point of emphasis. Ultimately, our goal is to be playing our best basketball by tournament time and put ourselves in position to make a strong sectional run. We appreciate Coach Phillips' insightful perspective regarding the upcoming season. We wish her and the team the best of luck. Go O's!