Basketball Recap: Jayden Sawyer's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Columbia over Northside - Pinetown

It was a proper cat-fight when Columbia duked it out withNorthside - Pinetown on Friday. The Columbia Wildcats lost 66-41 to the Northside - Pinetown Panthers. The Wildcats' loss continues a trend for the team, making it four in a row.

Columbia lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Jayden Sawyer, who dropped a double-double on 21 points and ten boards. With that strong performance, Sawyer is now averaging an impressive 8.1 rebounds per game. Maurcus Holloway was another key player, putting up five points along with six rebounds and four steals.

Even though they lost, Columbia smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive boards in nine consecutive contests.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Northside - Pinetown to victory, but perhaps none more so than Max Vansant, who went 6 of 13 on his way to 15 points in addition to five assists and five steals. Vansant is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last seven games he's played dating back to last season. The team also got some help courtesy of Malachi Moore, who went 7 of 15 on his way to 14 points and four steals.

Columbia's record now sits at 1-8. As for Northside - Pinetown, their record now sits at 5-1.

Columbia will get a bit of extra time to process the defeat as their next game is a ways off. They'll take on Pungo Christian Academy at 4:30 p.m. on December 28th. Northside - Pinetown will take on Hobgood Charter in a holiday battle at at 7:30 p.m. on December 20th.