Eastern Hancock, ranked No. 4 in the Class 2A Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association basketball poll, broke an early second-quarter tie and didn’t look back in a 58-38 victory over visiting Class 3A Rushville Saturday.
It was the home opener for the Royals.
Tied 16-16, Eastern Hancock junior Ellie Meyer scored five straight points. The Royals led 27-21 at halftime and outscored the Lions 31-17 in the second half.
Eastern Hancock freshman guard Kenzie Koch led all scorers with 28 points. She had 17 in the first half, including 11 in the first quarter. Koch hit 6 of 8 at the free-throw line.
Royals’ senior center Ruby White had 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Senior Brooklyn Willis scored six points.
Rushville (1-1) was led in scoring by Leonie Boyer with 15 points.
Eastern Hancock (2-0) returns to action Saturday at No. 15 Triton Central (0-1). Rushville (1-1) hosts South Dearborn Saturday.
Moore gets first win as head coach
New Palestine’s girls basketball team jumped out quickly with a 20-point first quarter, and pulled away in the second half, to pick up head coach Craig Moore’s first varsity win in a 59-39 victory at Batesville Saturday.
Allie Blum hit 11 of 13 free throws and finished with a game-high 23 points.
The Dragons scored 26 points in the third quarter, with Blum scoring 10.
Sadey Hughbanks scored 15 points, including eight in third quarter. She also had one 3-point field goal. Kendra Moore had eight points and Natalie Sevier added six.
The Dragons led 20-8 at the first stop. Batesville cut the lead to 27-22 at the half, but New Palestine poured it on in the third by outscoring the host school 26-6.
Sophie Gesell led Batesville (1-1) with 11 points.
New Palestine (1-1) is back in action Wednesday at Greenwood (0-2). Batesville (1-1) visits Union County (1-0) Friday.
Cougars suffer first loss
Greenfield-Central got out to a big lead early, but Whiteland outscored the Cougars 40-19 in the middle quarters to hand Greenfield-Central’s girls basketball team its first loss of the season, 59-52, Saturday.
The Cougars were led in scoring by freshman Izzy Silcox with 14 points. She hit three of G-C’s nine 3-pointers. Chaney Brown scored 13 points. Brooklyn McConnell hit four treys and had 12 points.
For Whiteland, Samantha Roadruck scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second quarter. Gwen Higdon hit four 3s and had 14 points. Sukhman Bains scored 13, 10 coming in the middle quarters.
Greenfield-Central (1-1) is back in action Thursday at Class 1A No. 11 Tri (1-0). Whiteland (1-1) hosts Speedway (0-0) Tuesday.
Mt. Vernon defeated at Warren
Mt. Vernon’s girls basketball team dropped to 1-2 on the season with a 52-45 loss at Warren Central Saturday.
For the Marauders, Ellery Minch had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Easton Wampler chipped in nine points.
Kanyonrae Kenny had nine points, four rebounds and three steals. Kaitlyn Laffey contributed seven points and four boards.
Warren Central was led in scoring by Denell Jacobs with 18. Denya Jacobs scored 14 points.
Mt. Vernon (1-2) is at Bishop Chatard (0-1) Thursday. Warren Central (1-1) travels to Carmel (0-1) Tuesday.
Girls wrestling
Cougars, Dragons have champions at New Pal Invite
Greenfield-Central and New Palestine each had weight-class champions and finished sixth and ninth, respectively, in team competition at the season-opening New Palestine Girls Wrestling Invitational Saturday.
There were 27 teams in the event.
Greenfield-Central’s Kylie Smith-Foster went 4-0 and won the 110-pound weight class. New Palestine’s June Wagner-Gilbert went 4-0 and was the champion in the 135-pound class.
G-C added runner-up finishes from Asia Bowen (105) and Ella Harpold (170). Jasmine Camacho (155) was third and Ray Biggerstaff (235A) finished fourth.
For New Palestine, Carmie Kelle (135B) and Julia Champ (170) finished third. Jillian Champ (135), Madisyn Covington (140) and Elizabeth Champ (155) all placed fourth.
Eastern Hancock had two wrestlers in the event and placed 26th. Mackenna Hardebeck finished fourth in the 120B weight class.
Franklin Central won the event with 172.5 points. Greenfield-Central scored 104, New Palestine had 95 and Eastern Hancock finished with 13.
