On Saturday, January 11, the Columbus Academy boy’s basketball team traveled to Buckeye Valley for the teams first matchup against the league newcomer.
CA came out strong in the first half, holding the Barons to 13 in the first quarter. The Vikes continued their strong defense throughout the rest of the half and got the scoring started in the second quarter, leading to a 28-30 half-time deficit for the Vikes.
The Barons went on a tear at the beginning of the second half, growing the lead to double digits, leading to a 35-47 score going into the final period. But the Vikings failed to stop the Barons’ hot hand, as they pulled away for a 47-61 victory. Carter Warstler’20 continued his strong stretch, leading the team with 12 points, with sophomore Tanner Compton adding 10.
The Vikes looked to rebound with a home game against Johnstown-Monroe on Tuesday, January 14. The team got out to an early 8-2 lead, with Hess’21 and Kass’21 hitting back to back threes for an energizing Academy start. After a Johnstown timeout, the Vikings hit a scoring drought, allowing the Johnnies to charge ahead and take a 10-8 lead over CA at the end of the first quarter. The back-and-forth game continued in the second quarter with Academy scoring well to end the period, resulting in a 19-17 lead for the home team at half-time.
CA started the second-half strong; however, foul trouble allowed the Johnnies to storm back, and after a Josh Murry’20 buzzer-beating layup, the Vikes found themselves down 32-33 going into the final quarter. A brutal stretch for Academy came three minutes into the fourth quarter, as Johnstown hit back to back shots, before making another stop and hitting a three. After another CA turnover, Johnstown was fouled on a fast break layup, making the first free-throw and missing the second, but grabbing its own offensive rebound, and converting on another three, stretching their lead to 12, 36-48. The Vikes made some shots-but could only dent the lead, resulting in a 48-58 final.
On Friday, January 17, the Vikes hosted the league powerhouse, Worthington Christian. The game swayed in favor of the Warriors quickly, as all of the visitors’ shots fell while the Vikes couldn’t make one in. Worthington dominated the quarter, leaping out to an 18-0 lead over Academy. The second quarter didn’t see much change, as the Vikes didn’t score a basket until 4:15 remaining in the half, making the score 2-23. The Vikes began to hit a stride with an 8-point surge coming near the end of the period, thanks to two 3’s from Compton, leading to a 10-31 half-time score.
The second half continued similarly to the first, with CA seeing another scoring drought ended by a Josh Murry’20 three, resulting in a 13-49 score at the end of the third. Warstler’s tough night continued as he fouled out of his scoreless game. The Vikes saw some scoring success in the final minutes but were taken down 31-58.
The team hopes to bounce back with a game at Grandview Heights on Tuesday, January 21, before a home game against rival Bexley on Saturday, January 25.
