Columbus North High School

March 5, 2024 - A number of times throughout the 2024-25 boys basketball season, the Bull Dogs have rallied, sometimes from double-digit deficits, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Tuesday night at Columbus East in the first round of the sectional basketball tournament was not one of those games. Columbus East dominated from start to finish and eliminated the Bull Dogs in the first round with a 64-41 victory. North had beaten Columbus East 59-42 in mid-December, but this was a different Olympian team. Numerous Columbus North turnovers and poor shooting in the first half put the Bull Dogs in an early deficit. The Dogs rallied to close the gap to just five at halftime (24-19), but a 22-9 third quarter advantage by the Olympians dashed any hopes of another come-from-behind victory for the Bull Dogs. Austin Perry had twelve points and Nate Enneking added ten, but the Dogs just couldn’t find any offensive rhythm as they dropped their first game since a 59-52 loss at Terre Haute North on January 11. North’s twelve game winning streak as well as their 19-4 season came to a close with the loss. The loss also ended the careers of the Bull Dogs’ seven seniors, Eli Smith, Enneking, Braylon Thoman, Max Coomes, Nolan Pickup, Ben Ferguson, and Garrett Long. The JV and freshman teams finished with 15-7 and 9-7 records, respectively. Photo: Garrett Long skies to claim the opening tip against Columbus East on Tuesday night. The Bull Dogs fell to the Olympians, ending their season with a 19-4 record.