ST. LEON — Columbus East carried a 10-point lead going into the final quarter of play Thursday night, but East Central would get the final say as Courtney Robbins scored on a layup at the buzzer to give the Trojans a 42-41 girls basketball victory.
The Olympians (2-2) dominated much of the game. They relied on their perimeter shooting to help get their offense going, and it worked. Addy Galarno nailed two 3-pointers, and Riley Meade gave a huge spark off the bench and drained two 3-pointers, as well, to push the lead 14-8.
The lead could have been even bigger, but some of the Olympians’ open looks could not find the basket.
When East Central (4-0) scored seven straight points to open the second quarter to take the lead, the Olympians’ Britney Ballard ended the Trojan run by hitting a 3-pointer. That set off an 8-0 run to push the Olympians lead to 22-15.
The Olympians hit 10 3-pointers for the game.
Galarno finished with a game-high 15 points, including 14 in the first half., Meade scored 12 points, and Ballard added nine.
East Central did the complete opposite as the Olympians as they relied on scoring inside the paint with Allie McCool. The Olympian defense held its own and McCool finished with 14 points on only five field goals.
The Trojans got four quick points to start the fourth quarter to cut the lead 34-28. Ballard then hit a jumper, and after an East Central free throw, Kennedi Satterfield hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to double digits.
The Trojans then went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 39-38. After Audrey Wetzel converted one of two free throws, East Central tied it on a layup by Lauryn Helton.
Galarno then converted one of two free throws to set up Robbins’ game winner.
