Keaton Lawson
Columbus East had the lead for almost the entire game until Mooresville came back with a huge rally in the last four minutes of the game.
The Pioneers tied the game with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter and then a couple of 3-pointers turned the momentum in Mooresville’s favor. The Olympians didn’t have the opportunity to make a comeback in a 66-60 boys basketball loss.
The game was tied at 52-52 when the Pioneers took the lead for good on a Silas Smith 3-pointer from the left wing. On the next possession, Smith hit a tough 3-point basket to make it 58-52 with over a minute remaining.
East extended the game for as long as possible, but the Pioneers hit 8-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the game.
Even though it was a tough loss to take for the Olympians, there’s much to take away from the game to help them when the calendar turns to March.
“We were hoping to get on a little bit of a run, but we are still in the learning phase,” East coach Perry Nash said. “We started back from scratch, and we got Carter (Patterson) back, which was huge, and now we’ve just got to get everybody playing together, playing tight and doing their job.”
The Olympians (6-10) welcomed back Patterson, who missed a month of action with an elbow injury.
“Every last minute I get to spend on this court during my senior season is valuable to me,” Patterson said. “Even if it means coming back a little bit early with some pain, every last second with these guys and getting everything I can my senior season means the world to me.”
Patterson hit a couple of 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 12 points. Keaton Lawson scored a team-high 19 points, and Judah Lewis added 13.
Freshman Miles Broaddus got the start for East Tuesday and finished with five points.
“To be honest, we think Miles has earned it. In practice and in games, he comes out and competes on both sides,” Nash said. “There’s so much he still has to learn, but he’s getting better every single game. We’re really excited about the progress that he’s made. He doesn’t shy away from the big moment, and he makes really solid plays. Right now, he’s our fifth starter, and right now, he’s not playing like a freshman.”
The Olympians will look to get back in the win column when they host Hoosier Hills Conference opponent Jennings County Friday.
Mooresville 66, Columbus East 60
Mooresville;13;15;13;25;—;66
Columbus East;13;22;8;17;—;60
Mooresville (7-11): Colton Briede 2 2-2 7, Jameson Elliott 2 5-6 9, Chris Thompson 5 5-5 16, Mason Samuels 2 2-3 6, Silas Smith 6 4-4 21, Xavier Browning 1 1-2 3. Totals: 20 19-22 66.
Columbus East (6-10): Anthony Cowan 0 0-0 0, Graham Preizer 0 2-2 2, Judah Lewis 5 0-0 13, Keaton Lawson 8 3-3 19, Ben Ellegood 2 0-0 4, Logan Neal 2 0-0 5, Miles Broaddus 2 1-1 5, Carter Patterson 5 0-0 12, Carson Siegelin 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24 6-6 60.
3-point goals: Mooresville 7 (Smith 5, Briede, Thompson). Columbus East 6 (Lewis 3, Patterson 2, Neal).
