Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympians made sure there was no waiting until Christmas morning to celebrate, rolling past North Decatur 62–40 Tuesday night inside a lively Orange Pit. From the opening tip, the Olympians set the tone and never let it slip. East built steady separation each quarter, using balanced scoring, active defense, and strong rebounding to control the night from start to finish. Senior Brelyn Poole delivered a complete performance and led all scorers with a game-high 26 points. Poole knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and stayed aggressive all evening, giving North Decatur problems at every level of the floor. Junior Krea Martin provided a big lift offensively as well, pouring in 12 points — all from three-point range — including nine in the first half that helped East build momentum early. Senior Kenzie Cheek added six points, while the freshman trio of Allison Halstead, Hayden Meek, and Bailey Rhode continued to grow into their roles. Halstead finished with nine points, Meek chipped in six, and Rhode added three, showing poise and confidence as the game unfolded. While the scoring grabbed attention, the Olympians’ effort on the defensive end made the difference. Lola Watkins, London Cline, and Emma Armstrong anchored a strong night of rebounding and defensive pressure, limiting second chances and forcing North Decatur to work for every possession. East outscored the Chargers in each quarter, posting 16 points in the first, 19 in the second, 13 in the third, and 14 in the fourth. North Decatur was held to 10, 9, 11, and 10 points respectively. The win came on a special night in the Orange Pit, as Columbus East celebrated Youth Night and East Alumni Night. The crowd had plenty to cheer about, enjoying both the atmosphere and a complete team performance from the Olympians. Columbus East now turns its attention to the DiTech Holiday Tournament hosted by Hauser High School. The Olympians will open tournament play the day after Christmas with a 1 p.m. matchup against Crawford County (10–2) in the main gym. Good luck, Olympians.