The Columbus East and Columbus North girls basketball teams had a chance to see how they stood against other teams Tuesday night when they played their preseason scrimmages.
The defending Class 4A state champion Bull Dogs won three of the four varsity quarters and outscored host Brownstown Central 44-24. North won a fifth JV quarter 25-6.
Bull Dogs coach Pat McKee played 16 players in the first four quarters. Elle Williams led the way with nine points, while Paige Littrell and Maliah Howard-Bass each added seven.
“We had some good moments, and like you would expect in a scrimmage, some moments that were a little choppy,” McKee said. “My overall feeling was more positive than negative, but you always want to do better.”
The Olympians won all four quarters in outscoring visiting Jennings County 62-42. Audrey Wetzel led East with 19 points, while Britney Ballard and Riley Meade each added 10 and Claire Cunningham had eight.
Eliza Gasper led the Panthers with 10 points. Sidney Gerkin added nine.
Olympians coach Danny Brown said his team needs to work on execution, rebounding and overall defense.
“We had a few nerves for some reason at the beginning and got off to a slow start,” Brown said. “But overall, it was a pretty good effort. We put a lot of pressure and probably played our best when we were pressing.”
East opens the season at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at home against Floyd Central. North begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at New Albany.
Seniors earn academic honors
Seven area senior girls have been named first-team Academic All-State in their respective fall sports by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association.
Columbus East’s Rebecca Smith in golf and Bryn Eudy in soccer have been honored along with five volleyball players — East’s Lauren Baugh, Columbus North’s Grace Sonderman, Edinburgh’s Mikala Lain, Seymour’s Emilee Pollmann and Trinity Lutheran’s Hayley Carter.
East’s Kira Singer and Hauser’s Abbey Ashbrook in cross-country and East’s Ella Rohlfs and Elisa Watkins in soccer and Katie Mack in volleyball earned honorable mention honors. Also named honorable mention in volleyball were Seymour’s Mollie Borcherding, Chandler Clark and Mikayla Fee and Trinity’s Haylee Barker and Anne Franke.
ICGSA Academic All-State selections must have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, score at least a 1,110 on the math and verbal sections of the SAT or at least a 24 on the ACT.
Locals named All-District
Five area boys and three area girls have been selected first-team All-District 5 by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association.
Columbus East seniors Caleb Glass and Andrew Thomasson, Columbus North seniors Ty Bentham and Tyler Heathcote and Seymour senior Kyle Jones made the boys first team. East senior Sam Newell and North senior Mason Shaffer are honorable mention selections.
East seniors Bryn Eudy and Elisa Watkins and Seymour junior Marie Lenart are on the girls first team. East sophomore Morgan Martindale and Trinity Lutheran sophomore Maddie Roark made honorable mention.
Senior sweeps tennis awards
Senior Kevin Luo won three major awards for the Columbus North boys tennis team at its banquet. Luo was named team MVP and also won the Bull Dog and Sportsmanship Awards.
North also was recognized as an Academic All-State Team by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association. To qualify, the average GPA of the athletes who play in the tournament must be at least 3.6.
Jets, Panthers in showcase
One Hauser and five Jennings County boys soccer players have been selected to play in the Fifth Annual Indiana Elite North vs. South Soccer Classic Saturday at Danville High School.
Hauser’s A.J. Titus will make an appearance for the second consecutive year. Also selected were Jennings’ Zach Taylor, Jonathon Hill, Jackson Shepherd, Justin Copeland and Robbie Beal.
East teams hosting Chili-Dip
The Columbus East boys and girls golf teams will host the Chili-Dip Open at 11 a.m. Nov. 7 at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Cost is $50 per person and includes greens fees, cart, chili and other goodies, with proceeds going toward golf instruction and to pay for uniforms, golf bags and other expenses for the East boys and girls teams.
To register, text Jeff Smith at 812-344-4109 or email him at [email protected].
