Columbus Christian Teams Stumble in NACA Tournament Openers

Crusaders look to rebound after tough losses to open national competition in Tennessee

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:04pm

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The Columbus Christian boys and girls basketball teams both suffered defeats in their opening-round games at the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Tournament in Dayton, Tennessee. The boys fell 58-46 to Jefferson Academy, while the girls lost 38-33 to unbeaten Mount Pleasant Christian from Alabama. Despite the disappointing starts, the Crusaders have a chance to bounce back with additional games scheduled for Thursday.

Why it matters

Earning a spot in the prestigious NACA Tournament is a major accomplishment for the smaller-school Crusaders programs, providing valuable experience against top competition from across the country. While the opening losses were setbacks, the Crusaders now have an opportunity to measure themselves against new opponents and potentially make a run in the tournament.

The details

The Columbus Christian boys struggled to find offensive rhythm in their 58-46 loss to Jefferson Academy, led by 10 points from Judah Carlson and 9 from Hunter Goddard. The girls team kept it close against the unbeaten Mount Pleasant Christian squad, led by 15 points from Katie Bond and 7 from Olivia Wise, before falling 38-33 in a low-scoring affair.

  • The tournament games took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • The Columbus Christian girls are scheduled to play North Georgia HomeSchool at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • The Columbus Christian varsity boys are scheduled to play Bethany Christian from Melbourne, Florida at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • The Columbus Christian JV boys, competing in Division 7, are scheduled to play Cornerstone Academy from Alabama at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Judah Carlson

A player on the Columbus Christian boys basketball team who led the team with 10 points in their opening-round loss.

Hunter Goddard

A player on the Columbus Christian boys basketball team who scored 9 points in their opening-round loss.

Katie Bond

A player on the Columbus Christian girls basketball team who led the team with 15 points in their opening-round loss.

Olivia Wise

A player on the Columbus Christian girls basketball team who scored 7 points in their opening-round loss.

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What’s next

The Columbus Christian boys and girls teams will both have a chance to rebound on Thursday, with the girls facing North Georgia HomeSchool at 9 a.m. and the varsity boys taking on Bethany Christian from Florida at 12:30 p.m. The Crusaders' JV boys team will also play Cornerstone Academy from Alabama at 12:30 p.m.

The takeaway

While the opening-round losses were disappointing, the Crusaders' appearance at the prestigious NACA Tournament is still a major accomplishment. The experience of playing top competition from across the country will be invaluable for these smaller-school programs, and they now have a chance to bounce back and potentially make a run in the tournament.