Columbia’s Terrell Wright (30) shoots against an unidentified Towers defender in Columbia’s 96-33 rivalry win over the Towers Titans. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Thirteen Columbia Eagles scored on the way to a 96-33 Region 5-2A rivalry win over the Towers Titans in the nightcap of sweep at Columbia on Friday night.
The No. 4 ranked Eagles (10-1, 4-0) spread the wealth early as 10 different players scored in a 37-point first quarter on the way to 37-16 lead at the end of the first period.
Kevin Bruce scored seven points in a 21-2 run for the Eagles as they pulled away from a 2-2 tie to go up 23-4 with 3:08 left in the opening period.
Sirricco Jones scored six points in a 1:26 span and Jadan Baugh scored as the quarter was ending to make it 37-16.
Columbia went on a 27-0 run to open the second quarter as Elijah McCoy scored six of the points on the way to a 64-16 advantage. Ten players scored in the run. Then Columbia finished the quarter with back-to-back dunks by Cassidy Golden and Elijah McCoy to go into the breakup 68-18.
Golden led a group of six players to score in the third period hitting for six points while Towers managed just two points on a drive by Brandon Underwood as the lead expanded to 89-20 heading into the third period.
Jadan Baugh led a group of three Eagles in double figures with 12 points while Cassidy Golden (5 rebounds) added 10 and Sirricco Jones (7 rebounds) also hit for 10.
Brandon Underwood led the way for Towers (3-7, 1-2) with a game-high 13 points.
Columbia’s Nia Anderson (with ball) flies past Towers’ defender Maya Knight (24) for a layup. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GIRLS: Columbia 77, Towers 6
Columbia ran out to a 42-0 lead as the Lady Eagles (7-3, 4-0) cruised to a 77-6 win over the Towers Lady Titans (3-8, 1-2) in the opener at Columbia.
Kerselin Anderson (18 points), Nia Anderson (14 points) and Keamaura Robison (10 points) all hit double figures in the first half. Kerselin Anderson had 11 of her 18 in the first quarter and Robinson had 10 as Columbia was up 34-0 heading into the second quarter.
Back-to-back three-pointers to open the second period by Kerselin Anderson and an offensive put back by Jakiah Slaughter made it 42-0 with 6:06 left in the first half.
Towers got on the scoreboard on a layup by Iteria Davis on a nice pass inside by Maya Knight with 5:06 left in the half. Columbia went on an 11-1 run the rest of the led by five points from Makayla Juhan to make it 53-3 at the break.
Columbia shutout Towers for over eight minutes of the second half as the lead bulged to 75-3. Nia Anderson hit for six points in the third quarter, four coming via a pair of steals, and Kerselin Anderson added five more.
A pair of free throws by Makayla Coleman with 2:14 to play stopped the run by Columbia.
Kerselin Anderson hit for a game-high 23 points to lead four Lady Eagles in doubles figures including Nia Anderson with 20, Makayla Juhan with 11 and Keamaura Robinson with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Coleman finished with a team-high four points to lead the Titans.