Eagles finish on right side of NHC dogfight

January 21, 2013

COLUMBIA CITY — After coming out on the wrong side of a thriller against Northeast Hoosier Conference foe Homestead last week, Columbia City’s boys basketball team won a close game against another conference opponent Saturday.

Eagle Drew Benedict hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to give DeKalb its first conference loss, 47-46.

“They find a way to get it done,” Columbia City head coach Chris Benedict said. “Sometimes it’s not always pretty.”

Columbia City had an eight-point lead going into the fourth quarter, a lead that slowly dwindled in the final eight minutes.

Drew Benedict, who has shot as well as 90 percent from 3-point land this season, was 1-for-7 from behind the arc before his final shot.

The game was tied at 44 with two minutes to play, when a Columbia City technical foul sent DeKalb to the free-throw line, putting the Barons up 46-44.

The Eagles worked to get an open look before drawing a foul with 46 seconds to play, giving Columbia City the ball under its own basket.

Benedict caught the ball at the baseline and fired off a 3-pointer that swished through the net to give the Eagles the 47-46 lead.

The Eagles put up a strong defensive stand in the last 46 seconds, coming up with the final rebound to win.

Columbia City is back in action Friday at New Haven, which is 3-0 in the NHC and 6-4 overall.

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