Games to Watch
Pendleton Heights at New Palestine (Jan. 12): Once again the final HHC game of the regular-season for the New Palestine Dragons, this game could loom large in the final push for a top spot in the conference standings. Last year, the Pendleton Heights Arabians won 57-44 on New Year’s Eve to overtake the Dragons in the chase and claim an outright HHC title. The Dragons will undoubtedly be motivated to flip the script in the rematch.
Mt. Vernon at Greenfield-Central (Jan. 19): The Greenfield-Central Cougars have owned this series of late, winning four in a row. Two of those victories have been in the postseason, including in the sectional finals in 2015-16. With Madison Wise off at Iowa State and Katie Helgason at Ball State, the Cougars will have a new look as will the Marauders. This year, the regular-season meeting could be anyone’s game — until a potential rematch at sectional.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Eastern Hancock at Triton Central (Nov. 11): It was one of the biggest upsets in last year’s IHSAA girls basketball state tournament. After losing to top-ranked Triton Central 52-35 during the regular season, the Eastern Hancock Royals shocked the Tigers 57-50 in the sectional finals three months later to win their first championship in 16 years. The lose halted Triton Central’s bid at a third straight sectional title, so both sides will be charged up for the rematch on the Tigers home floor.
New Castle at Greenfield-Central (Jan. 12): The players on the floor and the coaches on the sidelines will be different this time around, but the history between the two programs remains. In 2016-17, Greenfield-Central edged past New Castle at the Chrysler Fieldhouse by one point (42-41) during the regular-season only to lose 51-41 in the sectional finals three weeks later. The year prior, Greenfield-Central won 40-37 in overtime as the two clashed in the first round of sectional. No longer postseason foes, the regular-season is now magnified for these HHC rivals.
