East defense leads to victory
SCOTTSBURG — After not being able to shake away from the host Scottsburg boys basketball team in the first quarter, Columbus East turned up the defensive intensity and pulled away to a 51-36 victory Tuesday.
The Olympians, 13-8, won their fifth consecutive game with a balanced scoring effort from junior guard Parker Chitty (13 points), senior wing Connor Umphress (12 points) and junior guard Zach Sanders (11 points).
However, the defense set the tone, keeping the Warriors to two points in the second quarter when East took a 23-13 lead.
“We didn’t shoot as well as we did at Madison (a 79-65 win Friday),” East coach Brent Chitty said. “But holding them to 13 points in the first half was pretty good.
“No. 1, we were talking and getting out and helping. We were blocking out and rebounding. Our inside guys did a good job.”
Chitty said he was pleased with his team’s shot selection and patience.
“We handled their pressure, and that’s a pretty good team,” Chitty said. “Our defense fed us.
“We are playing a lot better, and we still have things that will make us better.”
Scottsburg fell to 13-7.
Columbus East hosts Floyd Central on Senior Night on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
“We talk about the fact that this is a journey,” Chitty said. “I am really proud of these guys who stuck it out.”
Panthers cruise past Cougars
NORTH VERNON — The Jennings County boys basketball team downed South Decatur 76-41 by dominating the boards.
The Panthers, 10-11, had a 37-15 rebounding advantage, and that domination allowed them to build a 31-16 halftime edge before pulling away in the final 16 minutes.
Richard McNamee led Jennings County with 18 points while Dan Leach scored 12 and Chace Wilson added 11. Tyler Vogel and Justin Pettit each had nine for the Panthers.
South Decatur’s Spencer Burkhead had four 3-pointers to account for his 12 points. The Cougars fell to 1-18.
GYMNASTICS
East dominates Cougars
BLOOMINGTON — Adi Minor edged teammate Becca Bryan in the all-around to lead Columbus East to a 110.675 to 90.825 victory against host Bloomington North on Tuesday.
Minor triumphed in the uneven bars and floor exercise while Bryan won the vault and balance beam. Minor had 37.525 points to 37.075 for Bryan.
East gymnasts Andrea Stattenfield, Seena Griewe, Olivia Frownfelter and Jaycie Jaggers won every place available.
