PENDLETON — To get the best start of a boys’ basketball season in school history, New Palestine had to have a great finish.
Following a back-and-forth first half and tight third quarter, the Dragons outscored host Pendleton Heights 26-10 in the final nine minutes to earn a 58-41 victory over the Arabians Thursday at Pendleton Heights Middle School.
The game was moved from Friday to Thursday and from the high school to the middle school due to flood damage to the high school floor.
The win for the Dragons, ranked No. 11 in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association poll, improved their record to 12-0, the program’s best start to a season.
They had been tied at 11 with the 1978-79 team and 1958-59 club.
“I think it’ll mean more when we look back on it,” New Palestine head coach Trent Whitaker. “Right now, we’re going to work every day. These kids are incredible. They love each other. They play for each other. They do what it takes.
“To think about winning the first 12 games, is nothing I thought we could honestly do. But, I told them before the season if everybody plays the way they play, and share the basketball, this could be a special team. Right now, that’s what it is.”
The Dragons began pulling away late in the third quarter.
Pendleton Heights scored on a bucket from Josiah Gustin to cut New Palestine’s lead to 32-31 with 1:10 remaining in the period.
Dragon senior Ian Stephens responded with a 3-pointer and a dunk in the final 53 seconds to give the visitors a 37-31 lead heading in to the final eight minutes.
The Dragons remained hot, especially from 3-point range. Blaine Nunnally opened the final period with a 3. After a pair of Arabian free throws, sophomore sub Moses Haynes hit a trey. Another sophomore, Julius Gizzi had a pair of fourth-quarter 3s.
For the game, the Dragons hit 8 of 12 from long distance. They were 5 of 6 in the second half.
“Coach (Whitaker) has confidence in every one of us … We hit those shots in practice so when it gets to game time we’re just ready,” Gizzi said.
“We all talked and discussed (in the locker room at halftime) what happened before coach (Whitaker) gets in here,” Stephens added. “We didn’t play well at all and we were up. That was really refreshing and relaxing for us. We came out and hit some outside shots.”
Stephens finished with a game-high 19 points. Gizzi had 15 off the bench, 12 in the fourth quarter.
Along with hitting a pair of 3s, Haynes had four assists. Blaine Nunnally had seven assists, playing limited time due to foul trouble. Ben Slagley led New Pal rebounders with nine.
“It’s a great feeling (winning 12 in a row),” Gizzi said. “At the beginning of the season we weren’t sure if we were going to make it this far, obviously. We’re playing well right now and everybody is coming together. It’s working well.”
“It means a lot,” Stephens added on the 12th straight win. “We’ve had a lot of success over the years. It’s great to know that it’s continuing and we’re rolling, too. We’re not stopping. We’re not content with just playing and being undefeated right now. We are going out to play to win.”
Along with being 12-0, the Dragons are 4-0 in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. Pendleton Heights dropped to 4-9 and 0-2 in league play.
Gustin led the Arabians with 15 points.
New Palestine will be on the road twice next weekend with a game Friday, Jan. 20 at Roncalli and Saturday, Jan. 21, at Franklin.
“We can’t take anyone lightly,” Gizzi added on moving on after the 12th win. “We have to go into the next game with the same mindset. We can’t let up and take our foot off the gas.”
New Palestine 58, Pendleton Heights 41
New Palestine;12;13;12;21;—;58
Pendleton Heights;13;9;9;10;—;41
New Palestine (12-0, 4-0): Ian Stephens 8 2-6 19, Eian Roudebush 0 0-0 0, Ben Slagley 2 4-5 8, Bryant Nunnally 1 0-0 2, Blaine Nunnally 3 0-2 8, Julius Gizzi 6 0-0 15, Moses Haynes 2 0-0 6, Kendall Hill 0 0-0 0, Daniel Tippit 0 0-0 0, Brady Armstrong 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 6-13 58.
Pendleton Heights (4-9, 0-2): Aaron Cookston 3 1-2 7, Reese Caplinger 1 0-0 2, Josiah Gustin 7 0-0 15, Evan Mozingo 2 0-0 4, Isaac Wilson 1 2-2 5, Brayden Kanitz 2 4-6 8, Caden Sims 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 7-10 41.
3-point goals: New Palestine 8 (Gizzi 3, Haynes 2, Bl. Nunnally 2, Stephens); Pendleton Heights 2 (Wilson, Gustin).
