Bloomington South Panthers Clinch Conference Indiana Title Over Injury-Plagued Columbus North Bull Dogs

Columbus North falls 58-41 as Bloomington South's Duncan Combs scores 22 points in the win.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Columbus North Bull Dogs fell to the Bloomington South Panthers 58-41 on Friday night, with the Panthers clinching the outright Conference Indiana title. The bigger story, however, was the rash of injuries plaguing the Bull Dogs, including their leading scorer Austin Perry leaving early in the first quarter with an ankle injury and not returning. Bloomington South's Duncan Combs led all scorers with 22 points, including four 3-pointers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the challenges Columbus North has faced with key injuries this season, putting their postseason aspirations in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Bloomington South's victory clinched the conference title, showcasing their depth and resilience as they look ahead to the state tournament.

The details

Columbus North jumped out to an early 14-5 lead, but Bloomington South stormed back, outscoring the Bull Dogs 21-7 in the third quarter to pull away. In addition to Perry's injury, North was also without Ibar Baker (knee) and Anderson Horn (ankle). Bloomington South was led by Duncan Combs' game-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 16, 2026.
  • Austin Perry left the game with an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return.
  • Ibar Baker and Anderson Horn were already out with injuries from the previous game against Seymour on Tuesday.

The players

Duncan Combs

The Bloomington South senior forward led all scorers with 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and was a key factor in the Panthers' victory.

Austin Perry

The Columbus North leading scorer left the game early in the first quarter with an ankle injury and did not return, dealing a significant blow to the Bull Dogs.

Ibar Baker

The Columbus North player was already out with a knee injury sustained in the previous game against Seymour.

Anderson Horn

The Columbus North player was already out with an ankle injury sustained in the previous game against Seymour.

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What they’re saying

“Some nights aren't just about the final score — they're about who's still standing when the horn sounds.”

— Jeremy Giggy, Sports Director, White River Broadcasting (1010wcsi.com)

What’s next

The Columbus North Bull Dogs have three games next week as they look to get healthy and sharpen their play ahead of the state tournament.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges that injuries can pose for high school basketball teams, as the Columbus North Bull Dogs struggled to overcome the loss of key players. Meanwhile, the Bloomington South Panthers demonstrated their depth and resilience in clinching the Conference Indiana title.