Columbia Central wins three on the road and looks forward to it’s first home game following winter break.
Story, photos by Paul Snyder
Coach Troy Stewart’s Columbia Central Golden Eagles have found the winning formula on the road, winning three straight games away from home since the holiday break. The Golden Eagles took down the Ida Bluestreaks 53-40 on January 11 and the Hillsdale Hornets 58-45 January 14 to improve to 4-5 on the season and 4-1 in LCAA Conference.
At Ida, Ethan Stewart hit three triples and a pair of two-pointers in the first quarter to help the Eagles get off to an 18-9 first-quarter lead.
Columbia cooled off in the second quarter and Ida cut the Columbia lead to two at halftime and to one after three-quarters of play before Columbia went on a 17-5 fourth-quarter run to secure the win.
Freshman Dereck Sanders sparked the Eagle’s 17-point fourth-quarter streak with 6 points, hitting 2 baskets and 2 free throws, while Stewart hit 4 free throws and Jordan Pewsey 2, as the Eagles went a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
Cameron Adams hit a three-pointer and Jacob Walker a two-pointer for Columbia’s other five points in the quarter.
Stewart and Sanders combined for 36 of the Eagles’ points, with Stewart scoring 19 points and making 4 assists, while Sanders finished with 17 points for the night.
At Hillsdale, the Eagles got off to a hot 22-2 in the first quarter hitting four-three pointers.
Jacob Walker led Columbia’s big start, scoring 10 points in the quarter, while Cody Richardson also knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. (more below)
Columbia cooled off in the second quarter only scoring 6 points as the Hornets cut the Columbia lead to 15 at halftime (28-13).
The Eagles led by as much as 26 (44-18) with 3:34 left in the third quarter when Hillsdale went on a 10-0 run to get back within 16, only to have the Eagles close out the quarter with an 8-1 run, pretty much sealing the victory.
Three Eagles scored in double figures led by Walker with 16 points and 4 assists, Sanders with 14 points and Adams with 12.
Cody Richardson contributed 9 points while making 3 assists and grabbing 3 rebounds. Despite not scoring, Ethan Stewart played a strong game, dishing out 7 assists and making 2 steals.
