Emma Murray
After a slow start to the girls basketball season, Columbus Christian has caught fire.
The Crusaders, who lost their first eight games and were 1-9, won for the eighth time in the past nine games Monday night when they claimed a 44-39 victory against Horizon Christian from Indianapolis.
“Defensively, we got some good stops at the end there and didn’t quit,” Columbus Christian coach Chris Noblitt said. “Earlier in the year, we probably would have lost that game because we would have given up some layups or turned the ball over more. But we played it smart and defensively, got some stops at the end.”
The Crusaders (9-10) opened the game by getting the ball inside to post player Emma Murray for baskets. They got away from that for awhile, but got back to it in the fourth quarter.
“We pretty much got it to where we wanted the entire game, but then we just missed a lot of easy shots and turned the ball over and missed a lot of free throws,” Noblitt said. “It was a lot of stuff that we just didn’t convert on.”
Murray led Columbus Christian with 14 points and 16 rebounds.
“I think this game was definitely not our best, not nearly what we could have played,” Murray said. “But I think today, we kind of tried to pull through as a team. A win is a win.”
Olivia Wise
Eva Blair and Olivia Wise each scored 11 points for the Crusaders, who overcame 33 turnovers by forcing 31 Horizon turnovers.
“I think we could have done a lot of stuff better, but in the end, we worked together,” Wise said. “We definitely have things to improve on.”
Meanwhile, the Columbus Christian boys fell to Horizon 65-45. The game was tied 37-37 with 3:40 left in the third quarter when the Lions went on a 17-0 run to take control.
“That’s kind of been the story of the season,” Columbus Christian boys coach Kevin Roth said. “Right what you saw there in the third quarter, you could just frame that, and that’s been the picture all year.”
Josh Conrad and Peyton Walden each scored 15 points for the Crusaders (9-11). Walden also grabbed eight rebounds, and Jayden Howe added seven points.
Columbus Christian girls 44, Horizon Christian 39
Horizon Christian;13;8;9;9;—;39
Columbus Christian;19;4;9;12;—;44
Horizon Christian: Cate McGaughey 3 0-0 8, Olivia Leonard 1 2-4 4, Lilly Achenbach 1 0-0 2, Hanna Sumrall 6 3-4 17, Cayden Marshall 1 0-0 2, Azul Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Haley Sumrall 3 0-0 6, Henlie Sumrall 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 5-18 39.
Columbus Christian (9-10): Kaeli Clawson 0 0-0 0, Eva Blair 4 1-2 11, Paige Harden 0 2-2 2, Katie Bond 1 1-2 4, Olivia Wise 4 3-5 11, Emma Rice 1 0-0 2, Mara Nickerson 0 0-0 0, Belle Blair 0 0-2 0, Emma Murray 6 2-11 14. Totals: 16 9-24 44.
3-point goals: Horizon Christian 4 (McGaughey 2, Han. Sumrall 2); Columbus Christian 3 (E. Blair 2, Bond).
Horizon Christian boys 65, Columbus Christian 45
Horizon Christian;23;6;21;15;—;65
Columbus Christian;14;18;5;8;—;45
Horizon Christian: Collin May 5 0-0 11, Josiah Vibbett 2 0-0 4, Lawrence Long 5 1-3 11, Liam Brake 0 0-0 0, Brayden Mathews 1 0-0 3, Noah Rikkers 0 0-0 0, Israel Miles 8 1-1 19, Quinn Yoder 7 2-2 17, Jason Rikkers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 4-6 65.
Columbus Christian (9-11): Adam Haines 0 0-0 0, Jayden Howe 3 1-4 7, Levi Johnston 1 0-0 2, Cam Pritchard 2 0-2 4, Brian Fox 0 0-0 0, Brayden Howe 0 0-0 0, Ben Halsey 0 0-0 0, Cannon Carr 0 0-0 0, Josh Conrad 4 4-4 15, Peyton Walden 7 1-3 15, Branson Carr 0 0-2 0, Elijah Fields 1 0-0 2, Heath Harrison 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 6-15 45.
3-point goals: Horizon Christian 5 (Miles 2, May, Mathews, Yoder); Columbus Christian 3 (Conrad 3).
