Senior Mackenzie Smith shoots a free throw. (Charlie Belford’22/Media)

On Tuesday, February 4, the Columbus Academy girls basketball team took on Patriot Prep for its Senior Night. 

Seniors Emma Belford and Mackenzie Smith contributed early, as Belford knocked down an early three while Smith provided a couple of steals to fuel the Vikings in the opening quarter. Sophomore Sophie Spolter rebounded to classmate Claudia Warstler’s miss and put in a layup at the buzzer to give the Vikes an 11-8 lead after the first.

After that, CA pulled away behind some ferocious defense from Spolter and junior Kayla McClendon-whose 13 and Belford’s 9 led the Vikes to a blowout 53-28 win.

In the home regular season finale, the girls took on league co-leader Worthington Christian. They didn’t back down as the underdogs, keeping the game close through the first half. 

But the Warriors’ offense was too much to handle for the Vikes. Despite McClendon’s 10 points and Warstler’s 7, the girls fell to the Warriors, 51-23. A tough shooting night was their downfall, as they only shot 13% from the field compared to the opponent’s 37%.

Our girls will look to close out the regular season with two wins when they travel to Northridge and Newark Catholic on Tuesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 13, respectively.