New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team took a lead early in the second quarter and never relinquished it Thursday, winning a tight 47-41 decision over visiting Connersville. The Dragons improved to 5-1 with the victory over a Spartans team that was receiving votes in the ICGSA poll. Sadey Hughbanks led a balanced attack for the Dragons with 13 points. Haven Flagle added 11 - including six in the second half. That duo led the Dragons in a back-and-forth first quarter. Hughbanks scored seven points in the opening frame - including four free throws - and Flagle scored five, hitting a 3-pointer to put the Dragons up 12-8, but Connersville scored the last four points of a back-and-forth first frame to knot the score at 12-12. Connersville opened the second with a free throw to go up 13-12 - the seventh lead change of the game. But the Dragons immediately answered with four quick points - a basket by Hughbanks and a steal-and-score from Gabbie Brown - to go up 16-13. They'd never relinquish the lead from there, despite the game remaining tight. With NP leading by two, Kendra Moore rattled in a 3-pointer ahead of the buzzer to extend the lead to 24-19 at the break - the largest lead by either team in the game. The Dragons pounced early in the third - Brown opened the quarter with a three-point play, and Flagle followed with a steal and two free throws on the ensuing fast break - to push the lead to 10. But Connersville quickly answered with a 3-pointer and scored seven straight, using its defense to force three straight turnovers, to cut the lead to 29-26. The lead stuck at 29-26 for nearly three minutes, but Sawyor Murdick doubled the advantage with a 3-pointer out of the corner, touching off a mini-run that put NP up 35-28 after three. Brown followed Murdick's triple with a hoop to give her five points in the frame. In the fourth, the teams traded baskets early. With the Dragons leading 37-32, Hughbanks hit a tough contested shot in the post against a taller defender, and Brooklyn Crim followed by finishing off a perfect pick-and-roll to extend the lead to 41-32 with 4:32 to go. Connersville immediately answered with a 3-pointer. After the teams traded stops, the Dragons drew three fouls on a long possession, and Flagle finished it with two free throws to extend the lead to 43-35. Again, Connersville answered with a basket to cut the lead to six. After a Dragons miss, the Spartans scored again, and followed with a backcourt steal that led to two free throws, cutting the Dragons' edge to 43-41 in the final minute. With 26 seconds left, Moore was fouled and split two free throws. The Dragons forced a contested miss on the other end, rebounded and Flagle hit two free throws to restore a two-possession lead. Hughbanks finished the game with one more free throw with five seconds left to set the final margin. In addition to the two double-figure scorers, Brown tallied nine points. Crim scored seven, Moore four and Murdick three. The Dragons also won the JV game 50-33. The Dragons are next in action Tuesday at Rushville.