Staff Reports
MUNCIE — The Eastern Hancock boys basketball team won its fourth consecutive game Saturday, improving to 13-1 on the season and 5-1 in the Mid-Eastern Conference.
The Royals defeated MEC foe Cowan, 74-61, to maintain their third-place standing in the league behind Wapahani (5-0 MEC) and Shenandoah (6-0 MEC).
Eastern Hancock has three more MEC games left on its schedule, including at Wapahani tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Against Cowan, the Royals were fueled by five double-digit scorers. Junior Landon O’Neal set the pace, posting a team-high 21 points on 5 of 10 shooting. O’Neal buried four of the Royals’ 10 overall 3-pointers.
Sophomore Silas Spaulding had 16 points (4 of 8 shooting), Cole Rainbolt finished with a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds), Jacob Spaulding added 11 points and Edric Miller chipped in 10 points.
Silas Spaulding sank a trio of 3-pointers, while Jacob Spaulding, Rainbolt and Miller each recorded one.
Jacob Spaulding dished out five assists, and O’Neal hauled in four rebounds.
Silas Spaulding, Jacob Spaulding and Drew White each had three rebounds apiece. White also had three steals.
The Class 2A Royals are currently ranked 14th in the state, as of Feb. 2, according to the The Associated Press.
Dragons rally past Falcons
The New Palestine boys basketball team used a fast start, but needed a furious last-minute rally Saturday to beat Perry Meridian, 64-58, in overtime.
New Palestine trailed 50-43 with 90 seconds to go, but a comeback launched by Blaine Nunnally’s 3-pointer from the right wing drew the Dragons back within four.
Steele Brasfield added a 3-pointer, while Eli Stephens scored a rebound basket and Nunnally hit two free throws to draw the Dragons within two in the final 30 seconds.
Perry Meridian’s Reggie McDonald hit a free throw with 16 seconds left to give the Falcons a three-point edge. On the final possession, New Palestine lined up a 3-pointer but it fell short. The rebound was tipped out of bounds by the Falcons, however, giving New Palestine one final shot with 3.9 seconds left.
Stephens inbounded to Brasfield in the left corner, who hit a fadeaway 3-pointer to send the game into overtime tied at 56.
In the extra session, Perry Meridian began fouling after falling behind to extend the game, and Nunnally hit four free throws to push the lead to 62-56. Brasfield added two late foul shots to give New Palestine an eight-point lead and seal the victory.
Nunnally finished with 21 points. Brasfield scored 20 points. Stephens had 11 points.
In addition to the three double-figure scorers, C.J. Oliver scored five points, Matthew Brown four, Luke Burgess two and Damon Hockett one.
The Dragons are now 11-6 on the season and play Friday at HHC foe Shelbyville before finishing the weekend Feb. 13 at Connersville.
Cougars fall to Woodmen
The Greenfield-Central boys basketball team lost to visiting Greenwood, 51-34, on Saturday.
The loss dropped the Cougars’ season record to 10-8 and marked their second straight. Prior to the setbacks, the Cougars had won four games in a row.
Against Greenwood, Greenfield-Central fell behind early 19-2 after the first quarter en route to the Woodmen’s fifth consecutive victory.
Cougars’ Dylan Moles had a team-high 11 points on 4 of 9 shooting. The sophomore guard was 3-for-6 from 3-point range and led the team with four rebounds.
Will VanDuyn finished with six points for the Cougars. Gavin Robertson and Rashawn Street both had four points each. Joey Roland, Tyler Kerkhof and Caleb McIntire added three points apiece.
The Cougars travel to Franklin County on Friday and Western Boone on Saturday.
Millers best visiting Marauders
The Mt. Vernon boys basketball team lost its first game of the month, falling to host Noblesville, 62-52, on Saturday.
The Marauders (11-4) were riding a three-game winning streak prior to the defeat and had won seven of their last eight games.
Against the Millers, Mt. Vernon fell behind 30-23 by halftime before it narrowed the gap with a 17-point fourth quarter.
Amhad Jarrard scored a game-high 17 points (6 of 12 shooting), followed by Armon Jarrard’s 12 points and Razhaun Wells’ 11.
Drew Walker had seven points. Avery Williams Jr. finished with three points and Eli Bridenthal had two.
Armon Jarrard had three of his team’s six 3-pointers, Amhad added a pair and Williams buried one.
Wells converted 7 of 10 free throws and grabbed two rebounds. Amhad Jarrard posted a team-best four rebounds.
The Marauders are at Mooresville tonight before concluding their four-game road trip at Brebeuf Jesuit on Friday.
