SELLERSBURG — Columbus East struggled to stop Silver Creek’s guard penetration on Saturday night and lost its second game in two days.
Cameron Stephens and Zane Gross combined for 39 points to lead the Dragons to a 56-47 win against the Olympians.
Gross led all scorers with 20 points and shot 100 percent from the free-throw line. Zach Pierce provided another nine points for Silver Creek, which outscored East in three of the four quarters.
“Our guys battled,” East coach Brent Chitty said. “I think their guard (Stephens) is a wonderful young basketball player. He can shoot it well, he runs the team well and plays with great composure. He’s a nice player.”
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Jonathan Foster and Max Nolting scored 15 points apiece to lead the Olympians. Foster also had a handful of steals in the fourth quarter for East (1-2), which tried to force a comeback late in the game.
Tanner McFall scored 11 points and played solid defense, forcing three steals and a blocked shot. The only other scores for East came from Chaz Painter’s five points and Thomas Myers’ one free-throw.
The Olympians struggled at the line, hitting only five of their 13 free throws.
“We have to knock some shots down, and our kids know that,” Chitty said. “We just have to keep working hard.”
The Dragons (4-2) outrebounded the Olympians 27-17 which allowed multiple second chance opportunities. Silver Creek was in control for most of the game.
East struggled to knock down shots but still managed to make six 3-pointers.
Saturday’s game was the Olympians’ third in five days to begin the season. The school’s football success gave them a late start to the basketball season, and Chitty says they have time to get better.
“Everybody else kind of got a little head start on us,” Chitty said. “We’re hoping that we get better as we go through next week.”
East has five days off before it plays its next game Friday at crosstown rival Columbus North.
