Tanner Compton ’22 sets up a play. (Sarah Neltner ’20/Media)
In a season plagued by injuries for the Columbus Academy boys basketball team, the Vikings find themselves 5-4 one week into the new year after starting the season 0-2.
The boys suffered a close 53-55 loss at Wellington on Tuesday, December 10, to start the season 0-3. Later that week, a huge rivalry game took place for the Vikings against rival Bexley on Friday, December 13. Our boys stopped the losing skid, beating the Lions 58-45.
CA then built on this win with a 69-37 blowout over Horizon Science Academy on Saturday, December 21. Now 2-3, the Vikes traveled to Briggs to play in the Briggs Invitational tournament with back-to-back games on Friday, December 27 against Dayvon Stivers and Saturday, December 28 against Briggs. CA dropped the first game 63-72 but rebounded with a 73-46 win the next day.
Back from break, the boys hosted Central Crossing on Saturday, January 4. The visitors kept it close, but Academy pulled away at the end, winning 39-31.
The most recent Vikings game came at home against Whitehall Yearling on Tuesday, January 7. Whitehall hoped to remain undefeated in league play, while CA looked to stretch its winning streak to three. The Rams and Vikes started this game off with defensive intensity, neither team cracking the double-digit mark in the first quarter. The period ended with CA up 8-6. Both teams added 13 points in the second quarter in this back and forth affair, leading to a 21-19 halftime score. For a moment, it seemed as if the Vikings began to pull away in the third quarter, but the Rams wouldn’t allow it, keeping it a 7 point game as the fourth quarter began. Whitehall crawled back throughout the quarter, causing a 55-55 tie game with under 30 seconds to go. CA held the ball while the clock counted down and had an opportunity for the last shot when star Carter Warstler’20 was fouled to put the game away. The senior had the best game of his career in this matchup, dominating throughout and sinking the game-ending free throw before intentionally missing the second to finish off the Rams. Warstler finished with 32 of the teams 56 points and helped lead the Vikes over .500 for the first time this year.
Academy has three games this week, first at Buckeye Valley on Saturday, January 11, next, hosting Johnstown-Monroe on Tuesday, January 14, and finally, taking on league rival Worthington Christian at home on Friday, January 17.
