Saige Stahl
Turnovers proved to be the difference for Columbus East Tuesday night.
Ben Davis put on the pressure defensively throughout the game, but in the second half, the Giants put the pressure on at the right times to give the Olympians a 68-60 girls basketball loss.
“They turned us over too much tonight,” East coach Danny Brown said. “They amped up their press. We took care of it pretty good in the first half, but it’s like an on and off switch for Ben Davis. They turned it on in the second half.”
The Olympians (5-7) came out with a lot of energy and intensity to start the game. They made the extra passes needed to find the basket. It helped them build a 14-9 lead. After Ben Davis (10-3) came back with a 3-pointer, Allison Craig drained a 3 to make it 17-12 after the first quarter.
A couple of Saige Stahl drives to the basket helped East take its largest lead of the game at 21-12. Ben Davis then started to put the pressure on defensively that forced a few turnovers. The Giants didn’t shoot the ball particularly well in the first half, but had plenty of second-chance opportunities to cut into the lead. The Olympians picked up their final points at the free throw line in the first half because they were in the bonus, and it helped give them a 27-24 halftime lead.
“I thought we played as well as we could play,” Brown said. “We played with a focus and intensity. The last game (against) Jeffersonville, we brought the same efforts. I thought the last two games, even though we don’t have a ‘W’ to show for it, the kids are playing hard. That’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
Ben Davis turned up the pressure more in the second half to force some East turnovers to give the Giants their first lead of the game at 30-29. Ben Davis attacked inside while the Olympains hit from outside and inside to keep them in striking distance, trailing 52-43 heading into the fourth quarter.
East got it as close 52-49 following a 6-0 run, but that was as close as it would get.
Saige Stahl led the Olympians with a game-high 32 points. Maeleigh Roberts finished with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and Jenna Guse added nine.
“Maeleigh hit some big shots. I thought Jenna Guse played really well tonight and took take of the ball for the most part and stepped up for us,” Brown said. “Saige was, once again, just proven she’s a Miss Basketball… I thought Leah got some weak calls and couldn’t do anything and that took her out of the game. We got to have her. Overall, I’m pleased with the effort.”
Ben Davis 68, Columbus East 60
Ben Davis;12;12;28;16;—;68
Columbus East;17;10;16;17;—;60
Ben Davis (10-3): Cristen Carter 11 2-3 24, Taylor Guess 7 4-6 18, Kaleah Toomer 2 4-4 10, Hermoni Andrew 1 0-0 2, Kirsten Clark 1 0-0 3, Zoe Wheeler 5 0-0 11. Totals: 27 10-13 68.
Columbus East (5-7): Jenna Guse 2 4-6 9, Victoria Cuhadar 0 0-0 0, Allison Craig 1 0-0 3, Maeleigh Roberts 3 2-2 11, Heidi Murphy 0 1-2 1, Saige Stahl 11 10-11 32, Leah Bachmann 1 0-0 2, Messiah Trapp 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 17-21 60.
3-point goals: Ben Davis 4 (Toomer 2, Wheeler, Clark); Columbus East 5 (Roberts 3, Craig, Guse).
