Jenna Guse
The comeback almost happened for a second straight game.
Unfortunately for the Columbus East girls, the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Olympians fell to visiting North Decatur 45-36 in the Orange Pit Tuesday night.
It was a huge letdown for East after coming off a huge emotional win Thursday night at crosstown rival Columbus North.
“We were flat tonight and not engaged. We definitely didn’t compete the way that we normally do,” East coach Kaitlyn Phillips said.
The Chargers (8-5) are a Mid-Hoosier Conference opponent of Hauser and a favorite to win the MHC title. They showed why Tuesday night. North Decatur fended off a huge fourth quarter charge when the Olympians (4-10) went on a 10-0 to cut the deficit to 38-34 after trailing as big as 34-17 in the third quarter.
That was as close East would get. The Chargers made their free throws in the final 1:17 of the game to seal the win.
“Kudos to us for battling back and cutting it within four. I’m happy that we did that, and that was a good spurt, but our conversion is right now why we have to keep digging ourselves a hole almost every game,” Phillips said. “That’s what we’re working on is competing for the entire 32 minutes, competing for all two hours of practice every day, and making that a habit and just excited to be at every game we’re playing in.”
After a tight first quarter that East led 10-9, the second quarter was a different story. North Decatur went on the attack down low to Ella Kunz, who powered her way to the basket for four straight points. It helped the Chargers lead 15-12. The Olympians couldn’t find the basket in the second, when they only had four free throws. North Decatur outscored East 11-4 in the second quarter to lead 20-14 at the half.
The Olympians trailed 34-17 until Jenna Guse created a spark at the end of the third quarter, scoring six straight points to make it 34-23 entering the fourth. After the Chargers went ahead 38-24 early in the fourth, East went on a 10-0 run, setting up the final sequence.
Guse led all scorers with a game-high 14 points for the Olympians. Caroline Frost added seven.
For the Chargers, Ella Kunz led with a team-high 11 points.
East will look to bounce back when it hosts Greensburg on Thursday.
North Decatur 45, Columbus East 36
North Decatur;9;11;14;11;—;45
Columbus East;10;4;9;13;—;36
North Decatur (8-5): Clare Kinker 2 5-6 9, Madi Allen 3 2-4 9, Jo Whitaker 1 0-0 2, Kelsey Haley 3 0-0 9, Ella Kunz 5 1-2 11, Sydney Rohls 1 3-5 5, Carmen Thackery 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 11-16 45.
Columbus East (4-10): Kenzi Cheek 2 0-0 5, Jenna Guse 4 6-6 14, Madelyn Poe 1 0-0 3, Caroline Frost 3 1-3 7, Messiah Trapp 0 0-0 0, Victoria Cuhadar 1 2-2 4, Kimberly Carothers 0 0-0 0, Savanna Sullivan 0 3-4 3. Totals: 11 12-15 36.
3-point goals: North Decatur 4 (Haley 3, Allen); Columbus East 2 (Poe, Cheek).
