Staff Report
ALEXANDRIA — The Greenfield-Central boys basketball team won two straight to seize the Alexandria Holiday Invitational championship on Wednesday.
The Class 4A Cougars opened the holiday tournament with a 60-53 victory over 2A Sheridan in the morning session before knocking off the host 2A Tigers, 59-37, in the championship game.
Greenfield-Central stormed out to a 20-6 lead during the title game and built a 29-20 advantage by halftime before outscoring the Tigers 30-17 in the second half.
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Adam Lester had the hot hand for the Cougars, finishing with a team-high 15 points. Dylan Moles added 11, while Gavin Robertson had nine. Joey Roland chipped in eight points, and both Will VanDuyn and Caleb McIntire each had six points apiece.
The title-game victory improved Greenfield-Central’s season record to 6-3.
Against Sheridan, the Cougars dug deep after falling behind 16-11 following the first quarter. They turned the tide in the second, pulling ahead 27-21.
However, the Cougars trailed once again after the third quarter, 42-41, but they powered back with a 19-point fourth.
Moles led the way with 20 points. VanDuyn had 12. Lester posted nine, and Robertson added eight.
The Cougars host 4A Mooresville tonight at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Mt. Vernon on Friday.
Royals win seventh straight
The white-hot Eastern Hancock boys basketball team kept its perfect season intact with a 58-52 victory over Mid-Eastern Conference foe Wes-Del at home on Wednesday night.
The Royals are a flawless 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the MEC.
Eastern Hancock trailed early, 19-11, until a 21-point second quarter put the Royals in front 32-31 at halftime. EH outscored Wes-Del 26-22 in the second half to win.
Landon O’Neal set the tone for the Royals with a game-high 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Silas Spaulding had 11 points, while Jacob Spaulding added eight.
O’Neal hauled in a team-best nine rebounds and went 4-for-8 from 3-point range. The Royals converted a combined 10 of 24 from beyond the arc.
Silas Spaulding was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and finished with seven rebounds. Cole Rainbolt had five boards.
The Royals travel to MEC foe Daleville tonight and are at conference rival Wapahani on Friday.
Other Scores
The Mt. Vernon boys basketball team played its first game since Dec. 5 on Wednesday night … the host Marauders defeated HHC foe New Castle 74-60 … the win improved MV’s season record to 4-1 and 1-0 in the HHC.
Girls Basketball
Dragons take third at Greensburg
The New Palestine girls basketball team split during Wednesday’s Greensburg Invitational, placing third in the four-team tournament.
The Dragons used a big fourth quarter to pull away to a 54-45 victory over Southport in the third-place consolation game. In the opening game, New Palestine fell, 70-55, to Noblesville, which is ranked 13th in the IBCA poll.
In their victory over Southport, the Dragons used a 19-point fourth quarter to pull away in what had been a close game. The teams were tied 13-13 after a quarter. New Palestine led 24-22 at halftime and 35-34 after three frames.
Isabella Gizzi led the Dragons with 16 points. Grace Marshall added 10. Anna Ackerman scored nine points and Rachel Kelley five. Faith Hensel, Addi Jones and Koryn Marshall all scored four points each.
In the opener against Noblesville, the Dragons fell behind 18-9 after a quarter and saw the Millers open up a 34-20 halftime lead and extend it to 61-38 after three.
Gizzi and Hensel scored in double-figures for the Dragons. Gizzi tallied 13 points and Hensel 10. Ackerman added eight points. Jones scored seven, Koryn Marshall five and Kelley four.
The Dragons are now 8-5 on the season. After playing seven consecutive games on the road, they return home Saturday to face HHC foe Yorktown at 1:30 p.m.
Wrestling
Dragons win invitational title
The New Palestine wrestling team swept the afternoon to claim the New Palestine 6-way invitational title on Wednesday.
The Dragons beat Triton Central 48-24 to open the day. New Palestine then beat Connersville, 63-6, Richmond, 69-5, Bishop Chatard, 69-3, and Franklin County, 62-12.
Five Dragons went undefeated on the day: Christian White (132 pounds), Darin Johnson (145), Shaun Glass (160), Richard Clevenger (195) and Porter May (220).
Sydney DeLois, Porter Keevers, Alonso and Tucker Keevers all went 4-1 on the day. Ethan Sleeth, Joe Poetz and Ian Faubion all won three matches.
The Dragons are now 9-1 on the season. They return to action on Tuesday against Franklin Central.
Cougars win Bronco Super Duals
The Greenfield-Central wrestling team swept through the Bronco Super Duals at Daleville High School on Tuesday to win the team title.
The G-C Cougars defeated Noblesville 64-9, Lapel 75-3, host Daleville 59-18, Beech Grove 63-15 and Mt. Vernon 47-22.
Individually, the Cougars had five wrestlers finish a perfect 5-0 on the day: Nate Miller (106 pounds), Dakota Herald (113), Spencer Johnson (145), Clay Guenin (152) and Chase Gardner (160).
Cohen Hager (120), Dewey Woolsey (182), Scott Stanley (195) and Brayden Flener (285) each went 4-1.
Zeke Holden (126), Matt Wickham (132), Logan Cicenas (170) and Jacob Blevens (220) were 3-2. Josh VanOsdol (138) was 2-3.
Herald’s flawless day improved his season record to 16-7, while Guenin pushed his record to 15-8. Blevens is 15-8 on the season.
