Sophomore Diana Ulbrich. (Liesel Goldfarb’22/Media)

In the Vikes’ first three games, the Columbus Academy girls basketball team picked up two big wins over Wellington and Delaware Christian and lost in a tough defensive battle against Grandview Heights.

On Tuesday, November 26, the Vikings traveled to Grandview to take on the Bobcats. In the season opener, there was some clear rust, as the Bobcats raced out to a 9-0 lead before sophomore star Sophie Spolter knocked down a three. 

Grandview continued to tack on to its lead in the second period, as the score ballooned to 21-7 before Spolter poked the ball loose and scored on a fast break.

The Bobcat lead just kept growing, reaching 28-11 in the third before Academy began fighting back. Early in the fourth, with the score sitting at 39-24, Spolter scored once again on a fast break layup, and on the ensuing inbounds, stole the ball and laid it in for an and-one to cut the Bobcat lead to 10. But the Vikings failed to get any closer than that, with neither team scoring the rest of the way. Spolter led the team with 17 points in the loss.

On Tuesday, December 3, CA took on Wellington on its home court. This game was a complete and total mismatch for the Jaguars, as Academy scored time and time again. All 9 players scored for the Vikes, who dominated with a final score of 55-9.

Four days later, on Saturday, December 7, our girls had the much-anticipated home opener against a talented Delaware Christian squad. This game was a nailbiter, and a missed three-pointer from senior Alex Phelps sent the game to overtime. In the extra period, Spolter, who finished with 22 points, took over, knocking down free-throw after free-throw. Senior Emma Belford added 13 in the 45-41 win. 

The Vikings return to the hardwood on Tuesday, December 10, when they take on CSG in The Mack.