Mooresville Rallies Late to Defeat Columbus East 66-60

Pioneers use timely 3-pointers and free throws to overcome Olympians' early lead

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a back-and-forth high school basketball game, Mooresville High School came from behind in the final minutes to defeat Columbus East 66-60. The Olympians had led for most of the game, but the Pioneers rallied with clutch 3-pointers and perfect free throw shooting down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough one for Columbus East, which had been playing well and looked poised to turn the corner. However, the game highlights the importance of finishing strong and the fine margins in high school basketball, where a few key plays in the final minutes can swing the outcome.

The details

Columbus East led for most of the game and was up 52-52 with just a few minutes remaining. But Mooresville's Silas Smith hit a 3-pointer to give the Pioneers the lead, and he followed that with another clutch triple to extend the advantage. Down the stretch, Mooresville went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line to seal the win.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 15, 2026.
  • Mooresville rallied in the final four minutes to overcome Columbus East's lead.

The players

Keaton Lawson

A player for Columbus East who scored a team-high 19 points in the game.

Judah Lewis

A player for Columbus East who scored 13 points.

Carter Patterson

A player for Columbus East who scored 12 points and hit two first-quarter 3-pointers after returning from an injury.

Miles Broaddus

A freshman player for Columbus East who earned a start and scored 5 points, showing maturity beyond his grade level.

Silas Smith

A player for Mooresville who hit two clutch 3-pointers in the final minutes to give the Pioneers the lead for good.

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What they’re saying

“This loss is a tough one, but it also showed East can compete deep into games. Now the job is finishing stronger, possession by possession, as March gets closer and every lesson becomes a tool.”

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

What’s next

Columbus East will look to bounce back on Friday night when they host Jennings County in another Hoosier Hills Conference matchup.

The takeaway

This game highlights the fine margins in high school basketball, where a few key plays in the final minutes can swing the outcome. Columbus East showed it can compete, but needs to work on finishing games stronger as the postseason approaches.