After coming within a couple baskets of winning its first sectional boys basketball title since 1996, Columbus East wants to take that next step.
The Olympians made strides toward that goal during the June period in which coaches are able work with their teams in practice and game settings. Athletes play mostly with travel teams during July.
East played nine games in three shootouts in June, going 7-2. The Olympians went at 2-1 at East Central, 3-1 at Hanover College and 2-0 at Bellarmine University.
“I’m really pleased with the progress our group made this summer,” East coach Brent Chitty said. “We were very successful in the games we played. The improvement is what you’re looking for, not just offensively, but defensively, as well.”
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The Olympians’ top wins came against Evansville Reitz, Louisville Waggener and Cincinnati Seven Hills. Their lone losses were to Greensburg and Beech Grove.
“What you have to do is have kids respond,” Chitty said. “I don’t get too worked up about who we beat or who we lost to. I’m pleased with our kids’ development.”
East has two starters back from last season in Matt Frost and Drew Johnson. Both will be seniors.
Frost led the Olympians with 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. Johnson was a steady presence at point guard for a team that went 13-11 and fell to Bloomington South 55-52 in the sectional final.
“They’ve done a great job being leaders,” Chitty said. “College coaches are looking at them and asking about them.”
Carson Whitehead, who will be a senior, is the only other East returner who saw significant varsity action last season.
Incoming seniors Beck Kelley and Matt Romig, incoming junior Seth Chandler and incoming sophomores Tyler Boyer and Jacob Pierce were fixtures at the JV level last winter and on the varsity in June. Also back from last year’s JV squad are incoming senior Zach Pierce and incoming juniors Jackson Paradise, Ben Kuhlman and Logan Kaisher.
“There are a lot of guys stepping up,” Chitty said. “They’re really coachable, and they’re listening. They’re working really hard.”
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This is the first of a six-day series recapping the summer basketball season for Bartholomew County teams. The schedule:
Today: Columbus East boys
Tuesday: Columbus North boys
Wednesday: Hauser boys
Thursday: Columbus East girls
Friday: Columbus North girls
Saturday: Hauser girls
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