Blake Barker’s 24 points helped push Columbus Christian’s winning streak to six after beating Horizon Christian on Friday night.
Columbus Christian held off the Lions’ fourth-quarter surge to win the game 67-57.
Horizon Christian struggled in the third quarter, scoring only five points, but its full court press kept the Crusaders on their toes in the final quarter.
“I thought our first seven did really well to build to the lead,” Columbus Christian coach Kevin Roth said. “I wanted the younger guys to get experience down the stretch, but I didn’t think they handled the full-court press very well.”
Phil Redd tried to keep Horizon in the game with his 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, but the Lions were in too big of a hole. Logan Harvey fouling out with 1:13 left really hurt Horizon on the offensive side of the ball. He ended the game with 12 points.
“We talked about their big guy (Redd). If he got the ball we wanted to double.” Roth said. “I thought our starting guys really did a good job of that.”
Lain Isley led the Crusaders (6-0) with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Evan Reed gave the defense a big boost by forcing three of Columbus Christian’s seven steals.
The Crusader girls team had a different outcome, losing to Horizon Christian 52-15.
Grace Lorimor, Taylor Ingram and Lauren Baker led Columbus Christian (0-3) with four points each. Barker also recorded three steals and a block. The remaining three points came for a 3-point basket by Hannah Lorimor.
The Crusaders had a hard time stopping Horizon’s Sydnee and Londin Hughes. They combined for 27 points and 26 rebounds. Sydnee Hughes also had nine steals and a block.
The Lions forced 26 steals overall.
