HANCOCK COUNTY — Earlier this year long-time Eastern Hancock coach Aaron Spaulding, who spent 24 years leading the Royals, said he doesn’t remember, during his time as coach, all four Hancock County teams being this good.
The 2022-23 boys basketball season saw the four teams combine for a 79-21 record. Two had the most wins in their schools history.
New Palestine finished 23-3. It set a school record for wins, which included a 15-0 start to the season, another best in school history. The Dragons won the Lebanon Holiday Tournament, Hoosier Heritage Conference and Muncie Central Sectional. They spent much of the season ranked in the Top 10 in both Class 4A Associated Press and the IBCA (all classifications) polls.
Greenfield-Central (21-2) had a great year, too. The Cougars also set a record in wins (21) and winning streak (18). Like the Dragons, they spent much of the season in the state rankings. Winners of the Muncie City of Champions tournament, G-C’s only losses were an early season defeat at the hands of the Dragons and a season-ending loss to another state-ranked team, Anderson, in the Muncie Central Sectional.
Mt. Vernon, though it graduated nearly its entire sectional championship team from the 2021-22 season, upset state-ranked Anderson to reach the sectional championship, again, before losing to New Palestine. The Marauders won the Roncalli Holiday Tournament and finished the year with a 16-9 record. Their starting lineup consisted of three freshmen and a sophomore.
Eastern Hancock finished 19-7. The Royals, like the Dragons and Cougars in Class 4A, were among the elite in Class 2A, occupying a spot in the classification’s AP poll nearly the entire season.
Of its seven losses, three were to Class 4A teams (New Palestine, Greenfield-Central, Bloomington South), another was to a Class 3A squad (New Castle). They lost in double-overtime to then-ranked Class 1A Indianapolis Tindley, were beaten at the buzzer by Mid-Eastern Conference rival, Class 2A power and regional champion Wapahani (25-2). They were defeated by Indianapolis Scecina, who went on to reach the semi-state, in a sectional semifinal game.
Here’s a look at the county coach of the year and the first and second team players.
Coach of the Year: Trent Whitaker, New Palestine
Though it graduated one of the program’s top all-time scorers (Steele Brasfield, now at Indiana Tech), New Palestine looked like it had the talent to be strong in 2022-23.
With the return of four starters and a strong incoming sophomore class, the Dragons still did more than a lot expected.
Whitaker, who reached the 100-win mark of his coaching career during the season, had a “Gritty Not Pretty” style of play that led the team all the way to a regional championship contest against Brownsburg, which reached the Class 4A Final 4 before losing to eventual undefeated state champion Ben Davis.
First Team
Player of the Year: Dylan Moles, Greenfield-Central
Moles was a four-year starter for the Cougars.
He went from being a spot-up shooter with four senior starters around him as a freshman, to becoming the catalyst of the winningest season in school history.
Moles, who will play at Marian University next year, averaged 20 points per game, became the program’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals (194) and had additional averages of 5.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 steals in his senior season.
He finished his career with 1,460 points.
Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central
Mullins is the lone underclassman on the first team. The 6-5 sharp-shooter already has Division I offers from Indiana State and IUPUI.
He averaged 16.9 points per game during his sophomore season and led the Cougars in rebounding at 5.2 per contest. He made 54 3-pointers and shot 47 percent (54 of 116) from distance.
Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine
Whitaker best describes Nunnally, a three-sport star at the school, with one word, “Winner.”
Nunnally often had his best performances in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line.
For the season, he averaged 17.2 points per game and 5.2 assists from his point guard position.
During the year, he went over the 1,000-point mark (1,258) and became the school’s all-time leader in assists (423).
The three-sport star recently committed to play baseball at Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Jacob Spaulding, Eastern Hancock
Part of the twin tandem at Eastern Hancock, Jacob Spaulding averaged 17.3 points, 3.2 steals and 2.8 assists per game.
He made 170 3-pointers for his career and had 67 this past season.
Headed to Franklin College, the senior, four-year varsity veteran guard finished his career with 1,260 points.
Ian Stephens, New Palestine
The 6-feet, 6-inch Stephens isn’t just the tallest player on the all-county team, but arguably one that has shown the most growth, on the floor, during his prep career.
As a senior, he averaged 15 points per game and 7.8 rebounds. He averaged just 3.4 points and 3.1 rebounds as a sophomore and burst on to the scene late in his junior season, finishing off that campaign with 12.5 points and 9.7 rebounds averages.
This past season, he shot 59 percent from the field, which included, emphatic dunks, drives and connections from 3-point range.
His college plans are undecided.
Second Team
Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon
Not a bad rookie season at all for the Marauder freshman guard.
Ertel averaged 13 points and team-highs for rebounds (6.3) and assists (4.3).
On top of that, he was not a guy opponents wanted to foul.
Ertel shot 87 percent at the free-throw line, connecting on 94 of 108 attempts.
Edric Miller, Eastern Hancock
Miller was another key component of the great run the Royals program had over the past few seasons.
In his senior year, Miller averaged 11 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals.
He and the Spaulding twins seldom left the floor for the Royals. Miller averaged 28.5 minutes per game.
Ben Slagley, New Palestine
Only a sophomore, Slagley, at 6-feet, 4-inches tall and 200-plus pounds, was a strong presence inside for the Dragons.
He was a third double-digit scorer (10.0 points per game) on the talented team and also averaged 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
He shot 50 percent from the field.
Julien Smith, Mt. Vernon
Another one of the Marauders fantastic freshmen, Smith led Mt. Vernon in scoring at 13.1 points per game.
The 6-foot guard has already received a Division I offer from IUPUI.
In addition to his scoring, Smith averaged 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.
Silas Spaulding, Eastern Hancock
Like twin brother, Jacob, Silas was a regular in the Royals lineup from his freshman season.
As a senior, Silas averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, a team-high 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals.
Also headed to Franklin College, Silas finished his career with 1,083 points and 198 3-pointers. He hit 58 this past season.
He led the team averaging 29.6 minutes per game.
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2023 All-Hancock County Boys Basketball Team
Player of the Year: Dylan Moles, Greenfield-Central
Coach of the Year: Trent Whitaker, New Palestine
First Team
Pos.;Name, School;Ht.;Cl.
G;Dylan Moles, Greenfield-Central;6-3;12
GBraylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central;6-4;10
G;Blaine Nunnally, New Palestine;5-10;12
G;Jake Spaulding, Eastern Hancock;6-0;12
F;Ian Stephens, New Palestine;6-6;12
Second Team
G;Luke Ertel, Mount Vernon;6-1;9
F/G;Edric Miller, Eastern Hancock;6-3;12
C;Ben Slagley, New Palestine;6-4;10
G;Julien Smith, Mt. Vernon;6-0;9
G;Silas Spaulding, Eastern Hancock;6-0;12
Honorable Mention
Eastern Hancock: Grant Gray; Greenfield-Central: Tyler Kerkhof; Mt. Vernon: Eli Bridenthal, Adam Hackett; New Palestine: Julius Gizzi, Bryant Nunnally.
Note: All-County team and Player of the Year were picked by votes from Hancock County coaches and the Greenfield Daily Reporter Sports Staff.
