Brelyn Pool
Trailing by 17 points midway through the third quarter of Saturday night’s girls basketball game, Columbus East went on a run to cut the lead to five twice in the fourth quarter.
Shelbyville, coached by former Olympians assistant Kylie Weichman, then went to a delay game to help stem the tide. The Golden Bears forced East to foul, and Shelbyville made 9 of 12 free throws in the final five minutes to pull out a 55-43 victory.
“They executed their game plan in the third and fourth quarter, stalling pretty well,” East coach Kaitlyn Phillips said. “It’s the first time our girls had played against that. It’s definitely an adjustment for them, but overall, we competed. We just have to bring more energy and a little more urgency to the game.”
The Olympians (5-11) committed 11 turnovers in the first quarter in falling behind 17-10. Shelbyville (7-7) increased the lead to 27-12 before East used an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 29-23.
The Golden Bears led 34-23 at halftime and 42-25 midway through the third when the Olympians clawed their way back into the game.
“The first quarter was rough,” Phillips said. “Definitely, turnovers killed us in the first. After that, we kind of settled in, but the first quarter got us in a hole.”
Brelyn Pool had 11 points and six rebounds, and Ella Anthis scored 11 points to lead East. Kenzie Cheek added eight points, and Krea Martin finished with seven.
The Olympians outrebounded Shelbyville 28-22, but committed 21 turnovers to 11 for the Golden Bears.
“We beat ourselves a little bit, not executing the way that we’re capable,” Phillips said. “But we’re working toward getting better every day and moving onto the next game.”
East will visit Seymour Thursday.
Shelbyville 55, Columbus East 43
Shelbyville;17;17;10;11;—;55
Columbus East;10;13;11;9;—;43
Shelbyville (7-7): Melia Cartwright 3 0-0 7, Hannah Baker 5 4-4 16, Maddalyn Jones 2 3-4 7, Savannah Collins 1 0-0 2, Jayla Ash 8 3-6 20, Reese Fortune 0 3-4 3. Totals: 19 13-18 55.
Columbus East (5-11): Kenzie Cheek 3 0-0 8, Lola Watkins 0 0-0 0, Ella Anthis 2 7-8 11, Emma Armstrong 1 0-0 2, Krea Martin 2 2-2 7, Allison Halstead 0 0-0 0, Hayden Meek 2 0-2 4, Brelyn Pool 3 2-2 11, Bailey Rohde 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 11-14 43.
3-point goals: Shelbyville 4 (Baker 2, Cartwright, Ash). Columbus East 6 (Pool 3, Cheek 2, Martin).
