Fast-starting Columbia runs away from Nashville to win Lebanon/Wesclin Tournament

Columbia was feeling confident before its game Saturday night against Nashville, and its performance on the court certainly showed.

Senior Jonathan Holmes scored a game-high 20 points and made four of his team’s eight 3-pointers, all in the first half, as the Eagles took down Nashville 68-51 to win the championship of the 18th annual Lebanon/Wesclin Thanksgiving Tournament. It was Columbia’s second straight title in the tourney.

Sophomore Jordan Holmes added 14 points for Columbia (3-0), while senior Ryan Gudeman had 13 and senior Korbin Farmer had 12. Gudeman contributed one of the biggest plays of the game in the fourth quarter to thwart a comeback attempt by the Hornets (2-1).

“Our kids were ready to go,” Columbia coach Mark Sandstrom said. “They were composed, and I don’t think we took a bad shot in the first half, to be honest with you. They were going under ball screens and I’ve got three guys who can let it fly.

“Our kids are pretty confident. A lot of people kind of forget about us because we’re in the bottom of (Class) 3A. There’s some good basketball in the bottom of 3A, and our kids want to come out and feel they can compete with anybody. ... We have a chance to be special if we stay healthy and do the right things.”

Jonathan Holmes made all four of his 3-pointers, in the first 9 minutes, 27 seconds of the game, powering Columbia to a 41-25 lead at halftime. Gudeman and senior Drew Huebner also had 3-pointers, with Huebner’s banking off the glass and beating the buzzer to give the Eagles a 21-12 lead aft one quarter.

It was Huebner’s first career 3-pointer, and Sandstrom said it probably will be his last.

“It was just like we drew it up,” Sandstrom joked. “It was his first 3-point attempt in high school and I want to leave it that way - 1-for-1.”

Columbia’s lead swelled to 60-38 in the fourth quarter. Farmer had a dunk on a runout by Farmer. But Nashville, ranked third in the Class 2A state poll, rallied to within 62-49 on a basket by senior Brady Bultman with 3:13 left, giving its fans reason for hope.

After an empty possession by the Eagles, Gudeman stepped in front of a pass and rushed in for a layup that put Columbia ahead 64-49 with 2:20 left. Junior Greg Long followed with a layup, sealing the outcome.

Jonathan Holmes said it was the Eagles’ best game of the young season.

“It was just one of those nights. My teammates kept giving me the ball, and my job is to put the ball in the net,” Holmes said. “It just so happened I found the touch.

“This was a lot of fun. Nashville was at the free-throw line midway through the fourth and I looked at the score and we were up 20. It didn’t feel like that from the atmosphere, with the crowd all charged up. It felt like a two-point game. There was no relaxing, and I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”

Nashville coach Brad Weathers credited the Eagles.

“They really shot it well,” Weathers said. “I think they made their first eight 3s. A couple of those were fairly well-contested. They got off to a great start and it’s so tough to play from behind against them because of their great guard play. They can penetrate and kick it. They make you pay. They’re a very balanced team.”

Bultman led Nashville with 14 points. Senior Jason Dalman had 11.

Wesclin 66, Lebanon 37

The Warriors started slowly as they were plagued by turnovers, but righted the ship in the second quarter and pulled away for an easy victory over Lebanon.

Wesclin (2-1) led just 15-13 after the first quarter and the game was tied at 22 with 3:38 left in the second quarter, but the Warriors went on a 14-0 run to lead 36-22 at halftime. The Greyhounds (0-3) were unable to recover in the second half.

“The second quarter was good for us,” Wesclin coach Brent Brede said. “We got a spark from Hunter (Ottensmeier). He was a big lift for us in the second quarter to put us in a good position to go up 14 at the half. It was nice to be able to come out with some energy and be able to play well enough to win.”

Ottensmeier, a sophomore, had seven second-quarter points and finished with 15. Senior Jake Stephens also had 15 for Wesclin, which was led by senior Jared Steenbergen’s 18 points.

Sophomore Derrick Guthrie led Lebanon with 10 points.

All-tournament

Members of the all-tournament team were Steenbergen of Wesclin, Farmer of Columbia, Guthrie of Lebanon, Bultman and Royce Newman of Nashville and both Holmes from Columbia.

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 10:38 PM with the headline "Fast-starting Columbia runs away from Nashville to win Lebanon/Wesclin Tournament."