Columbia boys hold off Eastern York for non-league win
For the first half, it seemed like a lid was on the rim every time Columbia shot the ball.
“We probably missed anywhere from eight to 14 easy layups,” said Columbia head coach Kerry Glover. “A couple were contested but I always tell my guys you gotta finish.”
Despite the early misses, Columbia trailed by just one at halftime and found its way offensively in the second half of a 52-44 victory over non-league rival Eastern York “up on the hill” in Columbia in the latest edition of The Battle of the Bridge.
The Golden Knights led, 18-17, at halftime and opened the second half on a 7-0 run to build an eight-point advantage. That’s when the Crimson Tide woke up.
Columbia responded with its own 7-0 run and pulled back within one. Brelon Miller, a senior guard for the Crimson Tide, scored back-to-back buckets late in the third quarter to give the home team a 33-32 lead.
“Just attacking off closeouts,” said Miller. “They were in a zone (defense) so we just attacked the gaps and the baseline.”
Early in the fourth quarter, Miller brought the capacity crowd to its feet. Columbia senior guard Artie Poindexter came away with a steal and dished to Miller, who threw down a one-handed jam to put the Crimson Tide in front by three.
But the Golden Knights wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Eastern York six-foot-seven junior forward Carter Wamsley scored twice inside and also converted a free throw to put the Golden Knights back in front.
Columbia answered with a pair of three-pointers from junior guard Ladarian Miller, Brelon’s younger brother.
The Crimson Tide would hold a two-point advantage with under one minute to play when Columbia scored three consecutive buckets, two from Brelon Miller and one from Poindexter, in a wild finish that included multiple Eastern York turnovers.
“It was a really rough, hard-fought game,” said Brelon Miller. “Really tight the whole game. We missed some layups, some three-pointers but we really executed the whole way through. We finished the game.”
Glover added: “It’s always a hostile environment whether it’s here or at (Eastern York). Two very good programs. Rich tradition and history. We knew what to expect coming in. We knew it was gonna be a battle, four quarters of basketball. And the guys, they held it down.”
Brelon Miller led all scorers with a game-high 24 points to go along with eight rebounds. His entire scoring total came on two-point baskets.
“That’s my motto,” said Miller. “I just try to go to the rack every time I can. I know I am faster so I just try to finish, go strong at the rim.”
“Brelon is a bigger guard,” said Glover. “He’s really super athletic and a great defender…the young man runs like a deer and he doesn’t stop.”
Senior guard Jordan Poole added 12 points and nine rebounds for Columbia while Ladarian Miller chipped in eight points and three assists.
The smaller Crimson Tide roster, which doesn’t feature a player taller than six-foot-three, held its own on the boards against an Eastern York team that features Wamsley and six-foot-five forward Justin Strausbaugh. The Golden Knights only outrebounded Columbia, 40-38.
“I think we did a really good job,” said Glover. “We gave up a few layups from some high-low action but we really disrupted them. They really weren’t able to get nowhere near the amount of low-post touches they would’ve liked.”
Columbia improves to 12-6 overall with Saturday night’s victory.
Wamsley led Eastern York with 16 points and nine rebounds while Strausbaugh finished the night with eight points and 14 rebounds. The Golden Knights drop to 12-7 overall.
Droege’s near triple-double leads Columbia girls past Eastern York
Brooke Droege came up just short of a triple-double while leading Columbia to an easy victory over Eastern York, 68-32, Saturday night in the latest edition of the The Battle of the Bridge at Columbia High School.
Droege scored 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out nine assists for the home team. She also collected three steals.
Droege’s twin sister, Brie, scored 14 points and hauled in seven rebounds while handing out three assists. Kailee Soto added 17 points for the Crimson Tide while Delaney Burke chipped in 10 points for the home team.
Columbia improves to 12-4 overall while Eastern York drops to 10-8 overall.
Senior guard Arianna Seitz led the Golden Knights with 18 points.
