New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team opens its season at home this week. WEDNESDAY: Bishop Chatard Trojans (0-1) at New Palestine Dragons (1-1) Time: 6 p.m. JV/F, 7:30 p.m. V Site: New Palestine HS Tickets: $7/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=161725 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/newpalestine ($) FRIDAY: Greenfield-Central Cougars (2-1, 0-0 HHC) at New Palestine Dragons (1-1, 0-0 HHC) Time: 6 p.m. girls, 7:30 p.m. boys (JV games Thursday at G-C) Site: New Palestine HS Tickets: $7/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=162077 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/newpalestine ($) SETTING THE SCENE After starting the season by splitting their opening weekend, the Dragons face Bishop Chatard in their home opener and the first of two games in three days. This is the fourth all-time meeting between the Dragons and Trojans, and the first regular-season meeting since 1970. The last meeting was in the 2017 sectional at Brebeuf, a 51-48 Chatard victory. NP is 0-3 all-time against the Trojans. The Dragons resume their second-oldest continuous series, as they face Greenfield-Central. Barring weather postponements, the two schools have played on the second Friday in December every year since the series began in 1984. The Dragons lead the all-time series 31-30 - and are 21-7 over the last 20 seasons. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons had a strong start to the season, as four players scored in double-figures in Friday’s 79-67 victory over Eastern Hancock. Liam Atkinson scored 19 points on 6-8 shooting (5-5 from 3-point range). Evan Darrah and Will Davison scored 15 points each. Sam Hirschy had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Hirschy’s double-double against EH was the Dragons’ first since Julius Gizzi had 20 points and 12 rebounds against Shelbyville on Feb. 14, 2025. Saturday night, the Dragons fell behind in the second quarter against Greenwood and were unable to complete the rally. Davison tallied a career-high 21 points, and also had nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Darrah added a career-high 20 points on 7-13 shooting. Hirschy had 11 points and six boards. Guard Eli Parrett has waited his turn as Dragons’ all-time assists leader Moses Haynes held the point guard position down for the last three years. Parrett made an impression in his first varsity start, dishing nine assists Saturday at Greenwood. He also had five points and a steal. 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. Davison had four assists and steals against EH. 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 TROJANS Chatard dropped its opener 65-54 last Thursday at Shortridge. The Trojans are coming off a 5-17 season last year in which they finished strongly - they won three of their last six games of the regular season. SCOUTING THE COUGARS Like the Dragons, Greenfield-Central is replacing much of its varsity scoring from last season. G-C has started the year 2-1 under first-year coach Miles Wayer, a Mt. Vernon and University of Indianapolis graduate and former Fishers assistant. Twin seniors Clay Mullins (18.5 ppg) and Cole Mullins (13.0 ppg) lead the Cougars. FOLLOW THE GAMES All games, home and away, are broadcast at NewPalRadio.com. NPHS athletics is online (NewPalestineAthletics.com), on X (@NPHSDragons), Facebook and Instagram (@newpalestinedragons) Photo credit: Aaron Smith