The New Palestine girls basketball team built an eight-point second-quarter lead, but dropped a 74-67 decision Saturday at home against Cathedral.
It was the Dragons’ first home game after a four-game road swing. The Dragons also celebrated their senior night, honoring Faith Hensel, Addi Jones and Whitney Miller.
New Palestine fell behind 14-6 early, but finished the opening quarter with a 14-3 run to take a 20-17 lead.
Isabella Gizzi keyed the early spurt with six first-quarter points. Anna Ackerman and Jones scored five points each in the opening frame. The Dragons pushed the lead to 36-28 in the second quarter.
Cathedral scored the last three points of the first half to cut the lead to 36-31 at the break.
Foul trouble forced several Dragons starters to the bench in the third quarter and the visitors took advantage, outscoring New Palestine 21-11 in the frame to take a 52-47 lead, and then extended it to 13 before a furious New Palestine comeback.
Gizzi tallied 14 fourth-quarter points to help the Dragons cut the deficit to 68-64. New Palestine had the ball with a four-point deficit in the final 35 seconds, but missed two shots and Cathedral answered with six straight free throws.
Gizzi led the way with a career-high 27 points. Ackerman added 14 points, 12 of which came in the opening half. Jones scored nine. Rachel Kelley and Hensel scored six each, while Grace Marshall tallied five.
The Dragons are now 12-8 on the season.
Boys Basketball
Royals’ winning streak ends
The Eastern Hancock boys basketball team’s nine-game winning streak came to an end Saturday at rival Shenandoah.
The host Raiders won 69-30 during the Mid-Eastern Conference contest, dropping the Royals to 9-1 overall on the season and 4-1 in the league.
Eastern Hancock was led by Landon O’Neal’s eight points, followed by Cole Rainbolt’s six points and Silas Spaulding’s and Cameron Wise’s five points each. Zach Arnold had three points. Wise added four rebounds.
The Royals host Lapel on Friday and Union County on Saturday.
Cougars win second straight
The Greenfield-Central boys basketball team defeated Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Shelbyville 52-41 at home on Saturday.
The Cougars were led by Gavin Robertson and Dylan Moles with 15 points each. Joey Roland chipped in 12 points as the Cougars won their second straight game.
Both Roland and Moles collected five rebounds apiece.
The win improved the Cougars season record to 8-6 and 2-3 in the HHC.
Marauders fall to Hamilton Southeastern in OT
The Mt. Vernon boys basketball team dropped a tough game on Saturday, 79-73 in overtime, at Hamilton Southeastern.
The Marauders (8-3) led 21-15 after the first quarter and 35-31 at halftime before the host Royals put together a 26-point fourth quarter to push the game into overtime.
In the bonus period, the Royals outscored the Marauders 14-8 to complete the comeback.
Mt. Vernon was led by Armon Jarrard’s game-high 28 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Razhaun Wells finished with 13 points, followed by Cooper Galli’s 10 points. Drew Walker had seven points. Avery Williams Jr. added six points. Amhad Jarrard had five points.
Armon Jarrard shot 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 6 of 8 from the foul line.
Wells had a team-high nine rebounds. Armon Jarrard had seven. Amhad Jarrard and Walker both had five rebounds.
Dragons’ quick start fuels victory
The New Palestine boys basketball team used an outstanding first quarter Saturday to bolster a 71-57 victory at Franklin.
The Dragons scored the game’s first nine points took a 22-4 lead after a quarter, finishing it when C.J. Oliver drilled a 30-footer at the buzzer.
The Dragons never trailed in the game, and the lead never went below five after the opening minutes.
Blaine Nunnally led the Dragons with 24 points — two shy of his career high — and six assists. Matthew Brown tallied his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Steele Brasfield added 12 points for his 13th consecutive double-figure game.
In addition to the three double-figure scorers, Oliver added eight points, Eli Stephens five and Luke Burgess four. Damon Hockett and Kyle Bastian scored two each.
The Dragons are now 9-4 on the season.
Dragons fall to Roncalli in final minute
The New Palestine boys basketball team dropped a 58-52 decision Friday at Roncalli, as the host pulled away in the final minute of a back-and-forth game.
The Dragons trailed 45-42 going into the final quarter, but free throws by C.J. Oliver and baskets by Matthew Brown and Oliver drew the Dragons into ties at 46 and 48-all.
A Roncalli 3-pointer gave the Royals the lead for good at 51-48.
Steele Brasfield led the Dragons with 18 points. C.J. Oliver tallied 11 for his second straight double-figure game. Blaine Nunnally scored nine, Matthew Brown eight and Eli Stephens six.
Gymnastics
New Pal gymnasts third at four-way
The New Palestine gymnastics team finished third Saturday in a four-way meet at New Castle.
The Dragons tallied 99.95 points. New Palestine finished behind Richmond (104.825) and New Castle (104.725). Muncie Central was fourth with 72.275.
Kennedy Garrett was seventh in the all-around with a score of 32.55. She finished fifth in vault (8.7). Emma Poag was also seventh on vault (8.3). Garrett was sixth on floor exercise (8.925), with Abby Kendall seventh (8.275).
On uneven bars, Poag was seventh (7.825) and Alyse Rickey eighth (7.75).
On balance beam, Kendall finished seventh (8.125).
Swimming and Diving
Dragons boys win invite
The New Palestine boys swimming and diving team won this weekend’s Warren Central Invitational, outscoring the host Warriors 397-333. The Dragons girls finished second in the eight-team event.
In addition to their 66-point margin over Warren Central, the Dragons boys finished ahead of Ben Davis (301), Cathedral (253), Ritter (243), International (158) and Park Tudor (134).
The Dragons girls tallied 373 points, finishing second to Warren Central, which had 402. New Palestine beat Cathedral (360), Ben Davis (265), Ritter and International (164 each), Park Tudor (97) and Greenwood Christian (34).
The Dragons boys won three events. Jack Schwartz won the 50 freestyle in 23.56. He teamed with Quincy Shirk, Aidan Kingery and Ben Miesse to win the 200 medley relay in 1:50.74. Austin Lines (334.25) and Darrell Drake went 1-2 in diving.
The NPHS girls were led by three second-place finishes. Samantha Booe placed second in diving. The team of Kyleigh Turner, Sullie Leavell, Katelyn Trimpe and Adrianna Huston finished second in both the 200 and 400 free relays.
