New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team opens its season this weekend with two road games. The Dragons face Eastern Hancock on Friday and Greenwood on Saturday. FRIDAY: New Palestine Dragons (0-0) at Eastern Hancock Royals (0-1) Time: 6 p.m. F/JV, 7:30 p.m. V Site: Eastern Hancock High School Tickets: Available at door Broadcast: NewPalRadio.com SATURDAY: New Palestine Dragons (0-0) at Greenwood Woodmen (2-0) Time: 4 p.m. JV/5:30 p.m. V Site: Greenwood High School Tickets: $7+fees, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=160074 Broadcast: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons open their season with a county rivalry matchup, as they face off against Eastern Hancock. This is the 70th all-time meeting between the schools, and the fifth since they resumed their series in 2021. NP holds a 43-26 lead in the series and has won 29 of the last 31 meetings dating to the 1991-92 season. NP won 81-54 last year. The Dragons are coming off a 26-4 regional championship season, the most wins in school history. The Dragons play Greenwood in their second game of the weekend and season. While this had been the season finale for 21 consecutive seasons, it moved to the opening week last season. NP won 62-56 in last year’s game. NP leads the all-time series 31-20 and has won 11 of the last 12 meetings DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons are coming off the best season in school history - a 26-4 year in which they advanced to the Class 3A final four. They return one starter, sharpshooting guard Evan Darrah. He tallied 4.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last year, and shot 36% from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Will Davison moves into a starting role after hitting 42% of his 3-point attempts last year. He averaged 3.8 ppg . The Dragons have a number of players who were hoisting a trophy at Lucas Oil Stadium with the Dragons’ football team a week ago. Sophomore forward Sam Hirschy led the Dragons football team with 20.5 tackles for loss from the nose tackle position. Junior Kade Stephens starred as a kick returner, with a 29.3-yard average and one return for a TD on the year. Fellow junior Cael Butler was the Dragons’ third-leading receiver with 347 yards and four TDs. In addition, Liam Atkinson was the starting first baseman on the Dragons’ regional championship baseball team. Several of the Dragons’ newcomers to varsity action saw extensive time leading the JV team, which went 19-1 last season, losing only to Lawrence North. The Dragons are looking to continue the strongest three-year run in school history, in which they posted three straight 20-win seasons, three sectional titles and, last year, posted the first regional title and semistate game win in school history. The Dragons enter the year having gone 71-13 over the last three seasons. SCOUTING THE ROYALS EH dropped its opener against Centerivlle last week, despite 18 points and five assists from Caden Powers and 16 points and 14 rebounds from Luke Manship. Caleb Retherford added 11 points. The Royals are a senior-heavy team - five of the six players who saw heavy minutes against Centerville are seniors. SCOUTING THE WOODMEN Greenwood posted two double-digit wins last week, beating Center Grove 7654 an Greenwood Christian 73-52. Senior Acen Swain tallied 20.5 ppg in those two games, while junior Braden Reynolds added 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Greenwood faces Mid-State foe Martinsville Friday night at home before meeting the Dragons. FOLLOW THE GAMES All games, home and away, are broadcast at NewPalRadio.com.