Staff Report
The Eastern Hancock girls basketball team got back to its winning ways on Tuesday night, defeating visiting New Castle 56-44.
The host Royals improved to 10-6 on the season, snapping a three-game losing streak behind a decisive 24-point second half.
The Royals jumped out to a 32-29 halftime lead before increasing their advantage 45-33 after three quarters.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Grace Stapleton paced the Royals with a team-high 17 points, a trio of 3-pointers, and a team-best five assists, four steals and six rebounds.
Both Caroline Stapleton and Sammie Bolding each finished with 10 points, followed by Ruby White’s six. Chloe O’Neal added four points.
Bolding converted three 3-pointers in the victory. Caroline Stapleton went 7-for-9 from the free-throw line with three assists and three rebounds.
White recorded three steals and hauled in five rebounds.
Up next, the Royals play host to Northeastern tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Dragons rally past Tigers
The New Palestine girls basketball team staged a furious fourth-quarter rally Tuesday night to defeat Class 2A No. 5 Triton Central, 46-43, in overtime.
The victory marked the Dragons’ first against a ranked opponent this season and snapped TC’s seven-game winning streak.
The Dragons trailed 32-21 going into the fourth quarter before Anna Ackerman drilled two 3-pointers to draw the Dragons closer. Another basket, a free throw by Alaina Miller and a 3-pointer by Isabella Gizzi drew New Palestine within 35-33.
Gizzi later hit another 3-pointer and two free throws to give NP a 42-39 lead before TC hit a 3-pointer ahead of the fourth-quarter buzzer to send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Gizzi hit an early basket and the Dragons’ defense was stout, not allowing the host Tigers a field goal.
The Dragons made four defensive stops in the final minute nursing a 44-42 lead. The Tigers hit a free throw in the final 20 seconds to cut the lead to one and got the ball back, but New Palestine forced a turnover, and Gizzi drained two free throws. The Dragons forced one final stop to seal the victory.
Gizzi tallied a season-high 20 points to lead the Dragons. Ackerman added 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Koryn Marshall scored four points, Miller three, while Addi Jones, Faith Hensel and Grace Marshall scored two each.
The Dragons are now 10-7 on the season and travel to Hoosier Heritage Conference rival Pendleton Heights tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Other Scores: The Mt. Vernon girls basketball team defeated Noblesville 52-41 on Tuesday night … the host Marauders improved to 9-5 on the season … the win marked Mt. Vernon’s second straight … the Marauders travel to Anderson on Friday night and face HHC foe Shelbyville on the road this Saturday.
Swimming
New Pal sweeps Beech Grove
The New Palestine boys and girls swimming and diving teams defeated Beech Grove on Tuesday night.
The boys won convincingly by a score of 130-30. The girls were also impressive in victory, winning 114-60.
Winners for the boys team included: Ben Miesse (200-yard medley relay, 100 freestyle, 200 free relay), Chase Martin (200 medley relay, 200 free relay), Jack Schwartz (200 medley relay, 50 free, 100 butterfly, 200 free relay), Kyle Ellis (200 medley relay, 200 free, 200 free relay), Eli Kleine (200 IM), Austin Lines (1-meter diving), Liam Fuller (100 backstroke), Aidan Kingery (100 breaststroke), Landon Cavaletto (400 free relay), Hayden Stone (400 free relay), Nathan Danz (400 free relay) and Cody Koch (400 free relay).
Winners for the girls team included: Claire Lake (200 medley relay), Sarah Kleiman (200 medley relay), Anne Bauer (200 medley relay), Lillie Poag (200 medley relay), Adrianna Huston (200 free, 100 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Sullie Leavell (50 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Samantha Booe (1-meter diving), Kayleigh Wright (100 butterfly, 200 free relay, 400 free relay) and Kyleigh Turner (200 free relay, 400 free relay).
Marauders boys keep streak going
The Mt. Vernon boys swimming and diving team defeated both Franklin Central and Brebeuf Jesuit on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten on the season.
The Mt. Vernon girls finished third with 23 team points behind Franklin Central (76) and Brebeuf (67).
The Marauders boys tallied 71 team points to best runner-up Franklin Central (58) and Brebeuf (36).
Mt. Vernon’s boys relay event winners included: (200 medley relay) Aidan Murphy, Aiden Tierney, Brady Gray and Evan Flick; (200 free relay) Logan Schomaker, James Demircioglu, Jack Farrell and Matthew Garey; (400 free relay) Gray, Flick, Demircioglu and Tierney.
Boys individual event winners included: Flick, Garey, Jack Farrell, Gray, Braden Thomas, Tierney and Xander Allen.
