Staff Reports
The Eastern Hancock boys basketball team pushed its winning streak to five straight, defeating visiting Randolph Southern 64-51 on Tuesday night.
The Royals have won four consecutive contests in the past 10 days since returning from COVID-19 contact tracing quarantine prior to Dec. 12.
Their victory against Randolph Southern improved their season record to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference.
The Royals jumped out to a 17-15 lead against the Rebels after the first quarter before widening the margin 28-21 by halftime. A 27-point third quarter put the Royals in control.
Eastern Hancock junior Landon O’Neal scored a team-high 18 points and was one of three Royals to reach double digits.
O’Neal shot 8 of 11 from the field and finished with two rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Silas Spaulding had 14 points on 5 of 13 shooting. Jacob Spaulding, a sophomore, added 10 points with three assists and two steals.
Junior Cole Rainbolt had eight points and a team-best five rebounds, while junior Zach Arnold provided five points.
The Royals converted 10 of 22 3-point attempts led by Silas Spaulding’s four treys. Jacob Spaulding buried 2 of 4 shots from beyond the arc.
Silas Spaulding had four rebounds. Cyrus Burton hauled in three boards. Drew White, a senior, had three steals.
The Royals traveled to Centerville on Wednesday and return home on Dec. 30 against MEC foe Wes-Del at 7:30 p.m.
Dragons best Benton Central
The New Palestine boys basketball team took a little time getting started in its longest road trip of the year Tuesday night, besting host Benton Central 77-50.
The Dragons used a 19-2 first-half run to seize control of the game and never looked back.
Benton Central took an early 7-4 lead, but the Dragons responded with a run that put them ahead 23-9. A seven-point spurt drew the Bison within seven, but the Dragons pushed the lead to 32-20 at halftime. It was never below nine the rest of the way.
Blaine Nunnally scored a career-high 26 points, including nine in the third quarter. New Palestine shot 54 percent for the game (27 of 50), which was the Dragons’ third game in their last five above 50 percent. The Dragons held the host Bison to 36 percent shooting (16 of 44). NP also out rebounded the Bison 31-20.
Steele Brasfield added 12 points on 3 of 5 shooting. He had a team-high seven rebounds. Matt Brown added 10 points on 4 of 6 from the floor with six rebounds. C.J. Oliver scored a career-high nine points. Eli Stephens added six. Kyle Bastian scored five, Luke Burgess four, Jaret Whitaker three and Damon Hockett two.
The Dragons (5-2) are next in action Tuesday in the Lebanon Holiday Tournament. New Palestine will open at 7 p.m. against Indianapolis Metropolitan.
Cougars fall to Spartans
The Greenfield-Central boys basketball team had its winning streak snapped at two games on Tuesday night, falling to visiting Connersville, 48-31.
The host Cougars (4-3, 1-1 HHC) were coming off back-to-back road wins against Speedway and HHC foe Yorktown. Greenfield-Central had won four of its last six games.
Against Connersville, Greenfield-Central fell behind 17-6 after the first quarter and faced a 33-16 deficit by halftime.
Rashawn Street led the Cougars with nine points, followed by Dylan Moles with eight points. Joey Roland grabbed a team-best five rebounds.
Girls Basketball
Royals win fourth straight
The Eastern Hancock girls basketball team stayed white hot with a decisive 71-15 victory over host Cambridge City Lincoln on Tuesday night.
The Royals (9-3) have won four straight games since losing at Southwestern (Shelbyville), 56-39, on Dec. 3. In their past two contests, the Royals have outscored their opponents 136-29.
Eastern Hancock stormed out to a 20-2 lead after the first quarter against Cambridge City Lincoln and held a 36-5 advantage by halftime. The Royals posted 35 points in the second half.
Freshman Sammie Bolding led the Royals with 16 points on 7 of 14 shooting. Four Royals posted double-digit performances.
Grace Stapleton finished with 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Caroline Stapleton and Brooklyn Willis both had 10 points apiece.
Ruby White pulled in a team-high eight rebounds. Emma Bolding and Makenzie O’Neal both had five. Grace Stapleton had four boards with four assists.
The Royals return to the court on Tuesday at home against Winchester at 7:30 p.m.
