When Columbus Christian faced Evansville Christian last month in the finals of the Southern Roads Conference Tournament, the Crusaders lost by 37 points.
Saturday night’s rematch went a little different, although the winner was the same. The Eagles posted an 82-69 victory in the title game of the ICSAA South Regional.
The game was tied 14-14 after one quarter, but Evansville Christian’s athleticism took over in the second and third periods.
“I thought our guys just fought with them and played their hearts out,” Columbus Christian coach Kevin Roth said. “I told them in the locker room the effort they brought is what I envisioned back in November. I told them if they play like this the rest of the year, they won’t lose again the rest of the year.”
Gabe Ridder and Jacob Conrad each scored 22 points to lead the Crusaders (18-14). Nathan DeFriece added eight.
In the semifinal game against Calvary Christian, the Eagles slowly came back to take the lead by one late in the fourth quarter, but Columbus Christian hit its free throws down the stretch to secure a 57-52 victory.
“I thought our energy level wasn’t where it needed to be,” Roth said. “They were all here watching the game earlier and knowing we’d have to play against Evansville, which is a very good basketball team.”
The Crusaders led 47-40 midway through the fourth quarter, until teams traded baskets, but the Eagles were hitting 3-pointers to the Crusaders two-point baskets. It helped Calvary Christian cut it to 51-49 with just under two minutes remaining, and then the Eagles took a 52-51 lead with just over a minute left on a 3-pointer from Ethan Harrison. Columbus Christian then hit six free throws to seal the win.
“Down the stretch, we hit some foul shots,” Roth said. “That was the first time we played them, and give credit to them, they never quit. They ended up hitting some big 3s. We were getting two-point baskets, and they came down at the other end and hit 3s and cut into the lead.”{
Ridder went for a game-high 25 points, while Conrad and Cody Kiefer had nine apiece. Ridder scored 18 of his 25 in the second half.
“(Ridder) helped us in the second half and on the glass and his work ethic on the offensive end, too,” Roth said.
