Columbus East High School

The Columbus East girls basketball team closed out the DiTech Holiday Basketball Tournament at Hauser High School with two starters sidelined, the tournament opened the door for several underclassmen to log meaningful varsity minutes and grow in key situations. After dropping their opening-round game in heart-breaking fashion, the Olympians faced a tough test Friday evening against Class 2A No. 16 Austin. The Eagles’ depth and tempo proved decisive as East fell 69–38. Lola Watkins led the Olympians with 14 points, while Hayden Meek followed with 11. London Cline and Allison Halstead each finished with four points, Brelyn Poole added three, and Emma Armstrong chipped in two. Saturday afternoon told a different story. Playing with renewed energy and purpose, the Olympians bounced back to defeat Greenwood Christian Academy 56–43, securing seventh place in the tournament. Watkins once again set the tone, pouring in a game-high 20 points to pace East. Bailey Rhode provided a strong secondary scoring punch with 13 points, while Halstead and Meek each added eight. Krea Martin finished with four points, Madison Gourley added two, and Armstrong rounded out the scoring with one. The response mattered. After a difficult Friday night, East showed resilience, played with better balance, and finished the tournament on a positive note. The Olympians now turn the page to the new year, returning to the Orange Pit on January 3 to host the Shelbyville Golden Bears. Junior varsity action tips off at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity contest. See you in 2026.