Columbian got off to a good start, and post player Derek Dryfuse was a big reason why.
Dryfuse converted three layups in the first four minutes of the Tornadoes game with New Riegel - Columbian's only scoring to that point - and led the Blue Jackets, 6-2.
The Tornadoes were able to score a number of first half buckets inside, and still held a 17-15 edge over the Blue Jackets at the half.
But after the break, Columbian's ability to score inside - or score much at all - went away. New Riegel's Brandon Reinhart and Jake Dryfuse crashed the boards, and the Blue Jackets dominated the third quarter en route to a 42-28 win.
"Their posts are improving game by game," New Riegel coach Todd Aichholz said of TC's tandem of Derek Dryfuse and Cody Daniel. "We knew we really had to do a good job of helping inside tonight."
New Riegel (14-2) grabbed the lead on its first possession of the second half when Korey Williams hit a 3 from the left wing. About two minutes later, he extended the Blue Jackets' lead with another 3, this one from the left corner to make it 21-17.
Fact Box
New Riegel 42, Columbian 28
New Riegel (14-2): Andrew Hohman 2-0-5; Josh Nye 1-0-3; Jacob Schalk 1-0-3; Korey Williams 4-0-11; Josh Burns 0-0-0; Brandyn Reinhart 6-7-19; Nick Wank 0-0-0; Nick Wank 2-0-4. Totals:15-7-45.
Columbian (5-10): Alec Demith 1-0-2; Bryce Lonsway 4-0-10; Jake Adams 0-0-0; Matt Zirger 0-0-0; Josh Flint 1-0-2; Connor Conley 0-0-0; Donovan Walker 1-2-4; Taylor Warner 1-0-2; Derek Dryfuse 4-0-8; Cody Daniel 0-0-0; Austin Thallman 0-0-0. Totals: 12-2-28.
New Riegel411198 - 42
Columbian 9847 - 28
Field goals: New Riegel 15-45 ; Columbian 12-39.
3-point goals: New Riegel 5-11 (Williams 3, Schalk, Hohman); Columbian 2-15 (Lonsway 2).
Foul shots: New Riegel 7-11; Columbian 2-2.
Rebounds: New Riegel 41 (Reinhart 13, Dryfuse 9); Columbian 25.
Turnovers: New Riegel 14; Columbian 16.
"Those first two 3's he shot for us, I think it showed us there wasn't a lid on the basket," Aichholz said.
Columbian's (5-10) Donovan Walker answered with a jumper, but Reinhart and Jake Dryfuse each made layups to put New Riegel ahead by six.
Derek Dryfuse countered with a layup for Columbian, but that was it offensively for Columbian.
For the quarter. For seven minutes of game time.
After Derek Dryfuse's layup, New Riegel went on a 15-0 run that sealed the game.
Reinhart had his second double-double in as many nights, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Williams had 11 points, while Jake Dryfuse had nine rebounds to go with four points.
"That first half, we shot 1 for 17 inside the arc, and that's not us," Aichholz said. "We're a very good shooting team inside the arc, and we just knew we were probably rushing through our thought process. Second half I thought we did a better job of taking better shots."
Columbian missed eight shots during New Riegel's run.
"We just can't score," Columbian coach Bill Beaston said. "Until we can get more consistent with finishing around the baskets, this is what's going to happen. It was nothing New Riegel did defensively; they didn't do anything special. We got looks we wanted to get, we just didn't convert."
Columbian was led on offense by Bryce Lonsway, who had 10 points, and Dryfuse, who had 8.
New Riegel outrebounded the Tornadoes 41-25.
"We had something to prove tonight," Aichholz said.
