New Palestine, ranked No. 18 in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association poll, won for the fifth straight time, defeating visiting Shelbyville 72-52 Friday.
The Dragons are 16-4 overall and 5-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference games. Shelbyville dropped to 11-7 and 1-5.
Julius Gizzi went 15 of 15 at the free-throw line and led all scorers with 26 points. Ben Slagley added 11 and Evan Darrah scored nine on three 3-point field goals.
Tied 11-11 after the first quarter, the Dragons began taking control by outscoring the Golden Bears 23-14 in the second period. They put on the finishing touches with an 18-9 advantage in the final quarter.
Moses Haynes added eight points. Brady Armstrong and Austin McMahan each scored six. Keagan Harrison added four and Alex Guhl scored two.
New Palestine hosts Connersville tonight.
Mt. Vernon comes home with win
Traveling to Madison Friday, Mt. Vernon’s boys basketball team returned home with a 63-40 victory over the Cubs.
Luke Ertel led Mt. Vernon with 18 points. Tyler Davis added nine. Charlie Cross and Tanner Teschendorf each scored eight points.
Mt. Vernon jumped out to a 15-5 first-quarter advantage and led 26-19 at halftime. The Marauders outscored the Cubs 37-21 in the second half.
For the Marauders, R’mani Wells added seven points and Julien Smith scored six. Brady Fitzgerald contributed five points and Elijah Parra had two.
Mt. Vernon improved to 12-8 on the year. Madison dropped to 6-14.
Mt. Vernon plays at 1:30 p.m. today at Pike.
Royals roll at Morristown
Eastern Hancock’s boys basketball team won for the third straight time with a 65-36 victory at Morristown Friday.
Kayden Ruble had 28 points, 14 in each half, to lead Eastern Hancock.
The Royals led 16-9 at the first break and 35-18 at the half. EH had a 30-point lead, 52-22, heading into the final quarter.
Following Ruble, Luke Schilling scored 10 points. Both Charlie Halcomb and Luke Morris scored seven. Caden Powers added five points. Eli Manship and Garrett Shaw had four points apiece.
Eastern Hancock (10-8) travels to Blue River Valley Tuesday. Morristown dropped to 3-16.
