In its game against Horizon Christian Friday night, Columbus Christian had two leads.
C.J. Reed scored on a runner to begin the game, and Shelton Hawkins nailed three of four free throws to end the game.
Sandwiched in between, the visiting Lions led for 31 minutes and 50 seconds of the 32-minute game. In the end, however, the Crusaders found a way to claw their way to a 66-63 victory.
Led by Connor Emily’s 31 points and some key minutes from freshman Gavin Lustig, Columbus Christian managed to fight back in a game in which they trailed throughout, at one point by as many as 14 points, to secure the win.
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Early on, the Crusaders did not have an answers for Horizon’s man in the paint, Terrance Shaffer. He gutted the home team for 15 first-half points, helping the Lions control the action and lead comfortable throughout the first half. Joshua Hinderliter also helped the visitors, scoring 14 points in the opening half.
After jumping out to a 19-9 first quarter lead, Columbus Christian was able to battle back in the second quarter. After being shut out in the opening quarter, Emily came to life. He scored nine points, helping his team cut the lead eight by the break at 36-28.
Coming out of the locker room, the Crusaders scored the first four points of the second half to cut the lead to four, but the Lions had an answer. A Cameron Ball jump shot extended the lead back up to 10 points midway through the period. Emily once again took over and cut the lead to six on a layup at the end of three.
After a Horizon basket extended the lead back up to eight to begin the final period, the Crusaders started to fight back. Reed hit a layup to cut the lead to three with 5:45 remaining, and Columbus Christian stood pat until it was able to shrink the lead to 59-57 with 2:00 left in the game.
Following a Lion basket, a Josh Jones putback and two Emily free throws tied the game for the first time with 28 seconds remaining.
Horizon looked to hold the ball for the final shot, but a Crusader foul changed those plans and put the Lions’ Moise Yoder at the free throw line for a one-and-one. Yoder missed the front end, and the Crusaders grabbed the rebound.
Following an Emily miss, Hawkins was there for the offensive rebound and was fouled with five second remaining. After missing the first free throw attempt, he calmly sank the second, giving the Crusaders a one point lead. Horizon threw the ball out of bounds on its ensuing possession, which allowed Hawkins to get fouled again, this time hitting both foul shots with two seconds left, giving Columbus Christian a 66-63 lead.
Just as the game appeared to be over, the Lions’ Hinderliter was fouled attempting a 3-point shot and awarded three free throws and a chance to tie the game with two-tenths of a second on the clock. Hinderliter, who was 8 of 9 from the line to that point in the game, missed all three attempts, and the Crusaders escaped with the victory.
