Daily Reporter staff reports
The Eastern Hancock boys basketball team ran out to an early double-digit lead Wednesday night, but the host Centerville Bulldogs charged back in the final 16 minutes to win 69-56.
The Royals led 32-20 at halftime before the Bulldogs outscored them 49-24 in the second half to win the season opener for both programs.
Brycen Napier paced the Royals in scoring with 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, while A.J. Muegge added 10 points, two rebounds and a pair of 3-pointers.
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The Royals shot 34 percent from the field and buried 7 of 20 attempts from 3-point range in the loss.
Addison True finished with seven points and seven rebounds, while Duncan Cherry had nine points and two steals.
Eastern Hancock will look to bounce back in its home opener against county rival New Palestine at 7:30 p.m. today.
Girls basketball
Royals win 3rd straight
After a 2-2 start to the season, the Eastern Hancock girls basketball team has caught fire, winning its third straight to improve to 5-2.
The Royals used a decisive 28-point second half to defeat visiting Shenandoah 50-35 on Tuesday night, marking their third consecutive win against the Raiders.
Haley Best ignited the Royals’ offense with a team-high 17 points on 6 of 15 shooting, while Emiley Carlton had 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Jenna Smith finished with a team-best eight rebounds and nine points, nearly getting a double-double. Leah Ferguson chipped in eight points, three rebounds and two assists.
Liberty Dunham and Peyton West combined for 11 rebounds and three assists for the Royals.
The win marked the team’s third straight game with 50 or more points scored. The Class 2A Royals posted 75 points to kick off their streak against Irvington Prep Academy on Nov. 18.
Eastern Hancock travels to Southwestern (Shelby) on Tuesday night in an attempt to stretch its run to four straight. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
Wrestling
Dragons drop season opener
The New Palestine wrestling team notched four wins Tuesday night, but the visiting Pike Red Devils spoiled the fun, prevailing 46-21 in the Dragons’ season opener.
Alec White, a two-time state place winner and three-time state qualifier, won his first match of the season at 126 pounds with a 19-second pin. White, who has signed with Purdue University, is ranked fourth in the state, according to IndianaMat.com.
Logan Robinson and Landan Burton both recorded first-period falls, with the former wrapping up his match in 38 seconds. Noah Wright won by decision 6-4.
The Dragons return to the mat at the Greenwood Super 8 Invitational at 9 a.m. Dec. 3.
Cougars topple Arabians
The Greenfield-Central wrestling team honored longtime assistant coach Ed Hamant for his 2015-16 IHSWCA Hall of Fame induction prior to their home opener Wednesday and proceeded to own the spotlight with a solid 44-18 victory.
The Cougars won nine of 14 matches against Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Pendleton Heights to improve to 6-1 in dual matches this season.
Riley Fletcher won by fall in 3:19 at 145 pounds as Greenfield-Central posted five victories by pin.
Luke Sheridan had the fastest pin in 19 seconds at 106. Carter Noehre won by fall in 1:09 at 120, Brad Lowe used 47 seconds at 170, and Lee Dullaghan won in 1:01 at 195.
Cooper Noehre earned a 5-1 decision at 138 and Gavin Rose, who is ranked 12th at 113 by Indianamat, worked his opponent for a 6-0 decision. Larry Evans (126) and Aaron Young (220) both recorded major decisions.
The Cougars host Franklin Central at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Swimming
Dragons take second
The New Palestine girls swimming team finished second in a three-way meet Monday night during its home opener.
The Dragons tallied 107 points to Pendleton Heights’ 170 as the visiting Arabians won all 12 events. Rushville was third with 33 points.
New Palestine is 2-2 on the season with two second-place swims in a pair of three-way events.
On Monday, Jessica Rogers was second and Anna Doolin was third in the 50-yard freestyle. Rogers also took second in the 100 butterfly.
New Palestine finished second and third in diving behind strong performances by Karen Shriver and Kylie Dhonau, respectively.
The Dragons’ 200 freestyle relay team of Rogers, Doolin, Hailee Holberton and Cassy Moorman was second. Grace Mitchell was third in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.
Holberton was third in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Doolin took third in the 100 free. Teagan Davis was third in the 100 backstroke. The 200 medley relay team of Mitchell, Holberton, Emma Noble and Doolin were third along with Rogers, Moorman, Mitchell and Bethany Neeb in the 400 medley relay.
Cougars beat Flashes
The Greenfield-Central boys swimming team opened the season with a 127.5-57.5 victory Tuesday against Franklin Central at home.
The Cougars won every event, with Sam Jennings placing first in the 200 freestyle, 500 free and with the 400 free relay team, consisting of Chris Joven, Ethan Kile and Zach Cook.
Jennings also was part of the first-place 400 freestyle relay team, which included Joven, Kile and Cook.
Cook was first in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, and with Kile, Joven and Kohler Kerber in the 200 medley relay.
Kile was first in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Joven was first in the 50 free, while Ben Rader won the diving competition.
Royals set record pace
The Eastern Hancock swimming teams broke three school records during their meet with Centerville on Monday.
Chris Walton set a new mark in the 500 freestyle at 5:27.64, Shelby Kell swam the 100 backstroke in 1:08.57, and the 200 medley relay team of Kell, Tatum Profitt, Elise Huffman and Ellie Griesmeyer posted a 2:11.71 to establish a new standard.
The girls team lost to Centerville 98-70 while the boys fell 109-50.
