Staff Reports
MOORESVILLE — The New Palestine boys basketball team held off a furious Mooresville rally Saturday night, forcing three defensive stops in the final minute to beat the host Pioneers 61-58.
The Dragons led by 11 points late in the third quarter and held a 55-46 edge going into the final eight minutes. But the Pioneers hit back-to-back 3-pointers and a basket to start the frame, cutting New Palestine’s lead to 55-54.
Blaine Nunnally hit a shot to restore a three-point edge, but the Pioneers hit back-to-back baskets to take a 58-57 lead in the final 90 seconds.
Nunnally buried a tough shot to give the Dragons the lead in the final minute. C.J. Oliver then forced a turnover. New Palestine missed a free throw, but the Dragons again forced a miss, and Oliver hit a layup with three seconds left.
The Pioneers’ desperation attempt to tie the game hit the rim, allowing the Dragons to seal the victory.
Steele Brasfield led the Dragons with 17 points. Oliver earned the start and scored a career-high 12 points. Matthew Brown had nine points. Damon Hockett tallied all seven of his points in the second frame.
Nunnally added eight points. Luke Burgess scored four points. Eli Stephens and Ian Stephens scored two each.
The Dragons are now 8-3 on the season. They continue a five-game road swing Friday at Roncalli.
Cougars split weekend
The Greenfield-Central boys basketball team split its back-to-back weekend road schedule with a 42-41 loss at New Castle on Friday and a 67-60 win at Lapel on Saturday.
Against New Castle, the Cougars trailed 11-9 after the first quarter before taking a 21-16 lead by halftime. A 16-point swing by the host Trojans in the third quarter setup a tug-of-war finale.
Caleb McIntire led the Cougars with 12 points and five rebounds. Dylan Moles added nine points. Will VanDuyn provided eight points, while Joey Roland and Moles both had four rebounds apiece.
Against Lapel, the Cougars built a 29-27 halftime lead and put the game away with a 28-point fourth-quarter outburst.
The win improved Greenfield-Central’s season record to 7-6 overall.
VanDuyn posted a career-high 23 points, including 6 of 10 shooting from 3-point range, with five rebounds. Gavin Robertson added 15 points. Adam Lester had 11 points and five rebounds. Moles and McIntire each contributed six points apiece.
The Cougars (1-3 HHC) host HHC foe Shelbyville on Saturday.
Marauders win third in a row
The Mt. Vernon boys basketball team defeated visiting Avon 67-57 on Friday to win its third consecutive.
The victory improved the Marauders’ season record to 7-2.
Amhad Jarrard led the Marauders with a team-high 18 points on 4 of 9 shooting, including a 9-for-12 performance from the free-throw line. He added three rebounds and two assists.
Eli Bridenthal secured a team-high eight rebounds and four steals. Drew Walker had four rebounds.
Armon Jarrard finished with 12 points (4 of 9 shooting with three 3-pointers). Razhaun Wells had 12 points. Walker (2 of 4 from 3-point range) and Bridenthal added eight points each. Cooper Galli had seven points.
Mt. Vernon (2-0 HHC) hosts HHC foe Pendleton Heights tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Cougars topple Trojans
The Greenfield-Central girls basketball team snapped its two-game losing streak with a 49-31 victory over Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle on Friday.
The Cougars’ win improved their season record to 5-9 and 3-2 in the HHC.
Greenfield-Central turned an early 8-7 deficit into a 24-10 halftime lead against the Trojans en route to a 25-point second half.
Caroline Gibson led the Cougars with 14 points, followed by 10 from Schuyler Sparks. Taylor Smith finished with eight points. Annan Tiede added seven, and both Addie Hill and Zoe Solis had five points.
The Cougars host Muncie Central on Wednesday before traveling to HHC rival Mt. Vernon on Friday night.
MV pushes winning streak to four
The Mt. Vernon girls basketball team improved its season record to 11-5 after sweeping its back-to-back weekend.
The Marauders won 52-35 at Anderson on Friday and 51-30 at HHC foe Shelbyville on Saturday to extend their winning streak to four straight.
Mt. Vernon faces a three-game week ahead, beginning with a road contest at Richmond tonight. The Marauders travel to HHC rival Yorktown on Wednesday before hosting league foe Greenfield-Central on Friday.
The Marauders are 3-0 in the HHC.
Royals fall to Mohawks
The Eastern Hancock girls basketball team lost its second straight, falling to Waldron 57-46 on Saturday.
The Royals are now 10-8 on the season.
Sammie and Emma Bolding led the Royals in scoring with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Chloe O’Neal added nine points. Brooklyn Willis, Delaney Collins and Makenzie O’Neal each had two points apiece.
Emma Bolding converted 5 of 10 shots from 3-point range and hauled in eight rebounds, while Sammie Bolding went 9 of 9 from the foul line with four rebounds and three steals.
Ruby White grabbed seven rebounds and posted four blocks. Chloe O’Neal tallied four rebounds.
The Royals (3-2 MEC) travel to Mid-Eastern Conference foe Daleville on Thursday.
