Daily Reporter staff reports
NEW PALESTINE — The New Palestine Dragons never let up on Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough as visiting Westfield escaped with a 49-44 win.
The loss was the first for the Dragons this season, dropping them to 4-1.
The Shamrocks grabbed their lead in the second quarter, pulling ahead 27-23 at halftime. The Dragons, however, charged back, led by Gavin Hausz, who scored five straight points in the third quarter to slice the deficit 36-35.
Westfield reclaimed the advantage with a 4-0 run, but New Palestine answered with nine consecutive points, including a Matthew True 3-pointer, to go up 44-40.
The Shamrocks scored a pair of baskets in the final two minutes and sealed the win from the free-throw line.
True paced the Dragons with 13 points behind three 3-pointers. Dylan Romine had nine points. Maximus Gizzi added eight points. Hausz had five, Maxen Hook chipped in four.
The Dragons travel to New Castle on Friday for a Hoosier Heritage Conference game at 7:30 p.m.
Royals remain unbeaten
The Eastern Hancock boys basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with an impressive 70-50 win at Randolph Southern on Saturday night.
The Royals are now 2-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference and off to their best start since 1989-90.
Tyler Castle led the Royals with 20 points against Randolph Southern. Addison True finished with 16 points, and Brycen Napier had 13.
The Royals buried 10 3-pointers in the game, shooting 40 percent from deep, while hauling in 32 rebounds. Jacob Eischen had seven boards. Duncan Cherry and True each had six.
Eastern Hancock returns to the court on Friday to host rival Knightstown at 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Marauders beat Tigers
The Mt. Vernon girls basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 41-34 win against Yorktown on Saturday.
The win pushes the Marauders’ HHC record to 1-1 and their overall mark to 4-7.
Lexi Shelton led the Marauders with 13 points. Sophie Williams and Sydnee Perry both finished with nine points apiece. Williams added 10 rebounds, and Mary Fleming grabbed eight boards.
The Marauders travel to New Palestine tonight for a 7:30 p.m. HHC matchup.
Cougars lose to champs
The Greenfield-Central girls basketball team dropped to 2-8 on the season after its 73-35 loss against defending state champion Homestead on Saturday.
Katie Real led the Cougars with 12 points and Brittany Wheeler added 10. Jessica Farrell had seven rebounds.
The Cougars host HHC foe Shelbyville tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Swimming
Royals win invite
The Eastern Hancock boys swim team muscled past Centerville to win their own invitational on Saturday, 259-258.
Lawrenceburg was third at 183, Herron was fourth with 154.
The Eastern Hancock girls team placed second with 196 points. Centerville was first at 292, and Herron took third at 190.
The boys team seized first-place medals in the 200-yard medley relay, setting a new school record in 1:55.38. The 400 freestyle relay also won.
Garret Henderson was first in the 200 free, Elijah Harris won the 50 and 100 free. Chris Walton was first in the 500 free and 100 backstroke, setting a new school record in the latter in 59.60.
Elise Huffman won the 500 free for the girls, who also took the 400 free relay.
Dragons finish strong
The New Palestine boys swim team placed second and the girls team was third at Saturday’s East Central Relays.
East Central won the boys event with 92 points and the girls portion with 86. New Palestine’s boys had 62 points, while the girls scored 56.
The Dragons girls won the 100 and 400 freestyle relays. The boys won the 150 butterfly and 400 freestyle relays.
