Columbus Christian’s Peyton Walden chases a loose ball Feb. 21 at Hauser High School.
The Republic file photo
While most IHSAA schools will be kicking off their boys basketball regular seasons next week, Columbus Christian gets out of the gate with three games this week, beginning Tuesday night against Calvary Christian.
Veteran Crusaders coach Kevin Roth had a chance to see his team in action on Saturday when it scrimmaged Living Water HomeSchool. Columbus Christian held the Marlins to 42 points, but struggled to put points on the board itself.
“I think so far, our practices have been real intense,” Roth said. “The kids have been working hard. We had a scrimmage on Saturday, and I thought our defensive pressure was good. We’ve been spending a lot of time on defense, and I thought that showed in the scrimmage. Our offensive movement, we have to do a better job with that. But it’s early, and we’ll get better.”
The Crusaders have only one returning full-time starter from last year’s team that went 16-21. Peyton Walden, a 6-foot-3 senior, led them with 17.2 points and 10.7 rebounds a game.
Cam Pritchard, a 5-7 senior who played as a freshman and sophomore before missing most of last season with an injury, is back at the point.
“What I like about what Cam has brought over the preseason and here is his leadership,” Roth said. “He’s our point guard, and I’ve kind of asked him to shoot a little bit more and ask him to use his quickness and get to the rim, and he did that pretty well on Saturday.”
Branson Carr, a 6-2 senior, saw plenty of action last season. Josh Conrad, a 6-2 senior who played a Columbus Christian as a freshman and at Trinity Lutheran the past two years, is back with the Crusaders.
“Josh will give us perimeter shooting,” Roth said.
The fifth starter likely will be 6-0 freshman Jayden Howe or 5-8 sophomore Adam Haines, both of which saw plenty action lat season. Ben Hasley, a 5-10 junior, and 5-10 sophomore Cannon Carr also saw some action and will be joined on the varsity by 6-0 freshman Brian Cox and 6-4 sophomore Elijah Fields.
Columbus Christian will host the Southern Roads Conference Tournament Jan. 12-23 and the Indiana Christian Schools Athletic Association South Regional Feb. 23-24.
“Something that we’ve been close a couple of times is our Southern Roads Conference,” Roth said. “We’ve been runner-up twice in the conference tournament, and I’d like to try to win that. We host the Southern Roads Conference Tournament here for the boys, so we’d like to get that, and we haven’t won the regional here at home since 2019, so we’d like to get back to the state tournament.”
The 2023-24 Columbus Christian boys basketball schedule:
Tuesday vs. Calvary Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Friday vs. Stone City Christian, 7 p.m.
Saturday vs. Clinton Christian at Hoosier Gym (Knightstown), 5 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Colonial Christian, 7 p.m.
Nov. 25 at Brown County, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 vs. Mooresville Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 at Good News Academy, 7 p.m.
Dec. 2 at Seven Oaks, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 vs. Martinsville Tabernacle, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 vs. Community Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 vs. Phalen Leadership Academy, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 at Legacy Elite, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 vs. Medora, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 vs. Bloomington Lighthouse, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Cannelton at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 9:30 p.m.
Jan. 12-13 in Southern Roads Conference, TBA
Jan. 20 vs. Christian Academy of Madison, TBA
Jan. 27 at Pleasant View Christian, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 vs. Horizon Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Community Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs. Shawe Memorial, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 vs. Mission Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs. Crothersville, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 vs. Legacy Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 vs. Geo Next Academy, 6:15 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Indiana Deaf, 6:30 p.m.
