Edric Miller
The Daily Reporter File Photo
Staff report
Eastern Hancock improved to 12-5 on the season with a 52-48 victory, at home, over Lapel Friday.
On a tough shooting night where the Royals hit just 4 of 24 (16.7 percent) 3-pointers and shot 30 percent overall (15 of 50), Jacob Spaulding led the way with 20, including 10 of 13 at the free-throw line. Edric Miller had 13 points.
The Royals took a 20-7 lead after the first quarter, but had to hold off a Bulldogs’ comeback.
Lapel (7-9) outscored Eastern Hancock 18-9 in the third quarter to cut the Royals’ advantage to 39-35.
Kayden Ruble led Eastern in rebounding with five. Silas Spaulding had a team-best three steals. Miller and Grant Gray had two assists apiece.
The Royals travel to Cowan on Saturday, Feb. 4 for a 1:30 p.m. contest.
Marauders lose high-scoring game to Spartans
Mt. Vernon’s boys basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 75-70 loss to Connersville at Mt. Vernon High School Friday.
The Marauders are 10-6 on the season. Connersville improved to 12-3 and have won six straight.
Mt. Vernon was led in scoring by freshmen Julien Smith and Luke Ertel with 22 points and 17 points, respectively. Senior Eli Bridenthal had 11.
Connersville was led by the game’s leading scorer, Josh Williams, with 29.
“We struggled defensively,” Mt. Vernon coach Ben Rhoades said. “We had a lot of trouble containing their best guy, and that really hurt us.”
The Marauders return to Hoosier Heritage Conference play tonight at Delta. Mt. Vernon is 3-1 in the HHC. The Eagles are 1-2 in league play and 10-5 overall.
Girls basketball
Cougars win 14th game
Chaney Brown had a 10-point fourth quarter to help lead Greenfield-Central to a 37-34 victory at Southport Thursday.
Brown finished with a game-high 18 points. Brooklyn McConnell scored 11, including three second-half 3-pointers.
G-C scored 16 of its 37 points in the final period and trailed 25-21 going into the final eight minutes.
The Cougars finish the regular season 14-9, their most since the 2016-17 season.
They open play in the Class 4A Sectional 9 tournament Tuesday at Mt. Vernon. Greenfield-Central will take on Pendleton Heights (14-9) at 6 p.m. in a quarterfinal matchup. The winner will play host Mt. Vernon (16-6) Friday.
G-C lost to Pendleton Heights 60-53 on Nov. 18 in Greenfield.
Game postponed to Monday
Mt. Vernon (16-6) will have to wait a little longer to clinch an outright Hoosier Heritage Conference championship.
The girls basketball team had its game at Delta – scheduled for Thursday – postponed due to Delta being out of school for weather related reasons.
The teams will play their regular season final on Monday. The junior varsity teams are scheduled to play two periods beginning at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow.
Mt. Vernon is 6-0 in HHC games. Delta is 1-5 in the conference and 6-14 overall.
The Marauders drew a bye in the Class 4A Sectional 9 tournament, to be played at MV. They are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Friday against the winner of the Pendleton Heights-Greenfield-Central game.
Gymnastics
NP defeats Roncalli
New Palestine’s gymnastics team defeated Roncalli, at The Gymnastics Company, Thursday, 100.-025-99.3.
With the victory, the Dragons are 8-1 in dual meets. JJ Fee won the floor exercise with a score of 9.225.
Fee was the only event winner. Addy Kendall was second on balance beam (8.425). Fee was runner-up on uneven bars (8.450). Lynzie Stiller was second on vault (8.35).
In the all-around, Fee was third (32.975), Stiller fourth (32.5) and Olivia Frank placed fifth (32.425).
The Dragons return to action Tuesday with a meet against Noblesville at The Gymnastics Company.
