Daily Reporter staff reports
Down 32-17 against host Union County entering the fourth quarter on Saturday night, the game seemed all but over for the Eastern Hancock boys basketball team.
Not exactly. Scoring 24 points in the final eight minutes of regulation, the Class 2A Royals roared back, nearly coming out on top, before eventually losing 48-41.
Union County finished out the final quarter with 16 points to keep the surging Royals at bay, but they had few answers for Addison True and A.J. Muegge.
True shot 4 of 9 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for a team-high 15 points. Muegge was a crisp 5-for-10 from the floor and 3 of 6 from 3-point range for 13 points. True led the team with eight rebounds.
The Royals (3-8, 0-4 MHC) return to the court Friday for a back-to-back weekend. They travel to Mid-Hoosier Conference foe Class A South Decatur (2-12, 0-4 MHC) before hosting Shenandoah on Saturday night.
Marauders sting Hornets
The Class 4A Mt. Vernon Marauders stretched their winning streak to three straight games on Saturday night with a 63-53 win at home against Class 2A No. 5 Indianapolis Howe (10-5).
The Hornets, who are now 2-2 against Class 4A opponents, came into the matchup with victories against 4A No. 7 Lawrence Central and 4A Guerin Catholic, which moved up a class after winning state last year.
They lost to 2A No. 15 Broad Ripple, 4A Cathedral and Class A No. 6 University prior to facing Mt. Vernon.
The Marauders (11-2) have won eight of their last nine games and host Class 4A Hamilton Southeastern (10-5) this Saturday.
Cougars split weekend
Greenfield-Central senior Tate Hall posted a season-high 27 points in back-to-back games, helping the 4A Cougars split their weekend slate.
Bouncing back from their narrow 57-55 loss against Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle on Friday night, the Cougars (10-4, 2-2 HHC) ran away from Triton Central, 61-45, on the road the next day.
Hall, who finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds versus New Castle, dropped another 27 against the Tigers as the Cougars built a 26-19 lead by halftime and a 20-point margin by the fourth quarter.
Greenfield-Central travels to HHC rival Shelbyville (5-8, 1-3 HHC) on Saturday.
Pioneers too much for Dragons
The New Palestine Dragons battled to the end Saturday night in a 61-57 loss against Mooresville Pioneers.
The Dragons had an opportunity to tie the game in the final minute, but a 3-point attempt rimmed out as the Pioneers sealed the victory from the free-throw line.
K.C. Earls scored a game-high 28 for Mooresville.
Gavin Hausz provided a team-high 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Jaret Rightley chipped in 11 points while John McKay added 10.
The Class 3A Dragons dropped to 3-10 on the season and play host to Class 4A Roncalli this Friday night.
Girls Basketball
Triton Central handles Royals
Eastern Hancock fell to 14-5 this season after a 41-22 loss Saturday at Triton Central.
Triton Central scored 26 points in the second half while only allowing six total points through the second and third quarters to seal the win.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Royals, who are 6-2 in Mid-Hoosier Conference play with just three games (one conference) left on their schedule.
Eastern Hancock’s next game is Thursday at home against New Palestine.
Dragons drop road contest
New Palestine dropped a road contest on Saturday to the Whiteland Warriors, 51-44, to move to 12-6 this season.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Dragons, who were led in scoring on Saturday by Raegan McMurry with 11 points. Natalie Kehrt added 10 points and 10 rebounds while Emma Grable finished with eight points.
New Palestine will be in action tonight at home against Beech Grove.
Golden Bears get past Marauders
Shelbyville picked up its second Hoosier Heritage Conference win of the season on Saturday, defeating a beat-up Mt. Vernon squad 43-37 at home.
The loss puts the Marauders at 2-2 in HHC play and 13-6 overall with three conference games remaining.
It was the Golden Bears first win against Mt. Vernon since the 2007 season.
Hanna Johnson led Mt. Vernon in scoring with 15 points while Mary Fleming added 10. Cara Reinhart paced Shelbyville with 17 points.
The Marauders will play again today at home against Richmond.
