Columbus East’s Saige Stahl, right, sets up to try and dribble past Zionsville’s Mya Childress during a basketball game at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021.
The Republic file photo
The biggest question surrounding the Columbus East girls basketball team during the offseason was who was going to fill the void at point guard.
It wasn’t a problem for coach Danny Brown over the past seven years with Britney Ballard and Koryn Greiwe running the point, but he believes he’s found the answer.
After the Olympians had their best season in 15 years, going 19-4, they didn’t get over the hump to win the sectional trophy. Despite the loss of Greiwe, the program’s all-time leading scorer, and two additional starters, East has a stockpile of talent still in the pantry. They’ll still figure to be one of the top teams in the state again this year with a loaded senior class, led by the frontcourt duo of Saige Stahl and Leah Bachmann.
“With six seniors, three juniors and one sophomore, we definitely have an experienced team,” Brown said.
Stahl, a 6-foot-1 forward and Indiana State commit, led the team last year with 17.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game and was named an Indiana Junior All-Star and a first-team All-State and All-Hoosier Hills Conference player. She is an Indiana All-Star candidate this year.
Columbus East’s Leah Bachmann, left, gets a shot off during a 72-67 loss to East Central in the sectional final at Bloomington North Feb. 8, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Bachmann, a 6-0 forward, averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals and was first-team All-Conference and honorable mention All-State last season.
Stahl and Bachmann will be the cornerstones and leaders of the team this season.
“To have two great quality players like Leah and Saige leading the way, that’s big for us this year,” Brown said. “Both of them really improved a lot. I look for big years out of both of them.”
Brown will turn to senior Allison Craig to handle the majority of the point guard duties this year.
“Allison has proved to be that pivotal point guard we need, and she did a heck of a job this summer running the point,” Brown said.
Columbus East’s Messiah Trapp shoots between Jeffersonville’s Neveah Bates (11) and Averielle Baker (32) Saturday in the Orange Pit at Columbus East High School.
The Republic file photo
Brown will use a rotation that includes seniors Maeleigh Roberts, Brielle Stevens and Heidi Murphy, who returns to the team after sitting out last season; along with juniors Messiah Trapp, Jenna Guse and Victoria Cuhadar and sophomore Kimberly Carothers.
“This may be a year where my starting lineup may not be the same at the start of the year than it is at the end. We’ve got six, seven, maybe eight players that can wind up starting or be starters,” Brown said. “It all depends on who can contribute and who’s producing.
“When we get to January, when it gets closer to sectional time, we‘ve got to settle in on who’s playing and starting,” he added. “It’s one thing I always like to have it and keep it that way for the whole year, but this year, it may not be that way. There may be some different starters here and there as we go.”
Brown lost 70% of his perimeter shots and shot attempts from last year. With Stahl and Bachmann being the focal point of the offense this season, Brown hopes it can create more 3-point opportunities this year.
“It’s more of a balanced approach, and it’s got better spacing than maybe what we had. It gives Leah and Saige inside post up, and also, it’s more movement where we’re moving the ball better,” Brown said. “The way it runs, it’s going to be the rest of them getting 3-point shots, along with Saige and Leah. This offense is built for that. It’s better spacing, and that’s where they’re going to get better 3-point shots. Hopefully, they can knock them down. We’ll find out real quick if it works or not.”
The Olympians will start their season more than a week later than the majority of teams in the state when they begin Nov. 10 against Bloomington South. Once they start, they’ll will begin the season playing nine games in 20 days.
East is the two-time defending undefeated HHC champions and have won 16 consecutive conference games dating back to Jan. 14, 2020. It’ll likely be a three-way race for the title again with Bedford North Lawrence and Jennings County in the mix.
The Olympians have a new sectional assignment this year that makes the road to the title much tougher with possibly three top-10 teams in the draw, along with East Central and Franklin. The Trojans have eliminated Columbus East in the sectional each of the past three years.
“The goal is still the same. It’s to win conference. We’ve got a target on our back this year. That’s still our goal is to win conference again,” Brown said.
“We know (the sectional) goes through (East Central),” he added. “Franklin, to me, still has to go through East Central. We think we can do it. With the schedule we play, and our record may not show it, but by the time we get to the sectional, we’re going to be tested. It’s just those 32 minutes that night. Anything can happen come sectional play, and hopefully, we’ll be hitting on all cylinders when that happens, too.”
