NEW PALESTINE — The New Palestine girls basketball team used two double-digit first-half runs Thursday to pull away to a 48-37 victory over Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter.
The Dragons scored the game’s first 11 points and held the Raiders without a basket for the first seven minutes. New Palestine then scored the first 15 points of the second quarter to take a 26-2 lead, with the Raiders scoring their second field goal with two minutes to go in the half.
New Palestine never looked back, with the lead never dropping below double digits.
After a scoreless first four minutes, Addi Jones sparked the Dragons early with a basket and a 3-pointer. A steal by Anna Ackerman led to two free throws. Jones and Ackerman added baskets to spark the 11-0 game-opening spurt.
In the second quarter, Isabella Gizzi hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points. Alaina Miller also drained a 3-pointer, while Jones and Koryn Marshall scored baskets in the 15-point spurt.
Ritter finished the half with seven straight points to cut the Dragons’ lead to 26-9, then opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the lead to 11. The Dragons answered with a 3-point barrage of their own and cruised through the fourth to seal the victory.
Jones, one of three seniors playing her final home game, led the Dragons with 13 points. Gizzi added 11 points. Marshall and Ackerman scored seven each.
Senior Faith Hensel tallied four points, while Rachel Kelley and Miller scored three each. Whitney Miller was the Dragons’ third senior, but was unable to play due to injury.
The Dragons drained eight 3-pointers among their 18 made field goals, one of their top-shooting nights of the season. They held Ritter to just 13 field goals — seven of which came from beyond the arc.
The Dragons finished the regular season with a 13-9 mark, clinching their sixth consecutive winning record. They will open sectional play at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Muncie Central. New Palestine will face Anderson in a rematch of the Dragons’ 2020 sectional championship game victory.
Swimming & Diving
Royals sweep Hagerstown
The Eastern Hancock boys and girls swimming and diving teams both claimed victories over Hagerstown on Wednesday night.
The Royals’ girls won eight events overall and the boys won 11.
On the girls’ side, Cora McDaniel finished as a double-individual event winner. She was first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1 minute, 13.30 seconds and in the 100 backstroke (1:17.01).
Kenzie Dyer was first in the 50 freestyle (34.13). Hannah Dolence took first in the 100 free (1:10.22). Celine Fleck won the 200 free (3:03.84), along with Caroline Ebert (7:19.31) in the 500 free.
The 200 free and 200 medley relay teams were victorious in 2:13.46 and 2:26.99, respectively.
Runner-up honors went to: Emma Dagley (50 free, 500 free), Fleck (100 free), Dolence (100 back), and Olivia Pastrick (200 free).
On the boys’ side, Aaron Surburg, Luken Edwards, Matthew McDaniel and Ryan Dagley each won two individual events.
Surburg won the 50 free in 24.40 and the 100 backstroke in 1:03.04. Luken Edwards was first in the 100 free (54.91) and in the 200 free (2:02.76).
McDaniel won the 100 butterfly in 57.06 and the 500 free in 5:18.79. Dagley took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.32) and in the 200 medley (2:24.64).
The Royals were first in the 200 medley (1:49.12), 200 free (1:51.49) and 400 free relays (4:06.00).
Runner-up finishes were secured by: Chase Morrow (50 free, 100 free), Joey Blocher (100 butterfly, 200 free), Lucas Elliott (100 backstroke), Kyle Messer (200 medley), Devin Inman (500 free) and the 400 free relay team.
