BOYS’ HOOPS: Red Devils keep struggling versus Olympians 54-47

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

COLUMBUS – Jeffersonville’s struggles continued Saturday night at the Orange Pit.

The Red Devils lost for the fourth time in five games, falling at Hoosier Hills Conference rival Columbus East 54-47. Jeff (8-7, 2-3 HHC) has scored 56 points or less in each of those four setbacks.

Junior Bailey Falkenstein was the only Red Devil to score in double figures with a game-high 17 points. Jeff senior Mike Minton tallied seven points, and freshman Tre Coleman chipped in six.

The Red Devils got off to a bad start as they trailed 9-2 during the first quarter. But they bounced back by outscoring the Olympians (5-8, 1-2) 11-5 for the remainder of the period to pull within one point at 14-13.

East responded by getting its lead back to seven at 26-19 late in the second. But with the Olympians still up seven at 42-35 early in the fourth, Jeff went on a 12-5 run to tie the game at 47 late in the stanza.

East’s Jonathan Foster and Thomas Myers responded by combining to score the final seven points of the contest to seal the win. Foster paced the Olympians with 15 points. Teammate Chaz Painter had 10.

The Devils will try to get back on the winning track next Friday at Bedford North Lawrence (6-10, 2-1). Tip off will be at about 7:30 p.m.

COLUMBUS EAST 54, JEFFERSONVILLE 47

Jeff                           13   8 12 14-47

Columbus East       14 12 12 16-54

Jeff (8-7, 2-3 Hoosier Hills Conference): Bailey Falkenstein 17, Mike Minton 7, Tre Coleman 6, Joe LaGrange 4, Gerrin Moore 4, Cam Northern 4, Gabe Gallahar 3, Jacob Jones 2.

Columbus East (5-8, 1-2): Jonathan Foster 15, Chaz Painter 10, Max Nolting 9, Tanner McFall 8, Matthew Frost 7, Thomas Myers 3, Drew Hasson 2, Drew Johnson 0, Wyatt Koopman 0.

3-point field goals: Jeff 2 (Gallahar 1, Minton 1); Columbus East 4 (Foster 2, Frost 1, Nolting 1).