New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team its two games in Friday's Ray Furney Classic at Lawrenceburg, falling 70-66 to Cardinal Ritter. The Dragons then dropped a 73-62 decision to Fort Wayne Blackhawk. The Dragons will face either Castle or Guerin Catholic at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lawrenceburg in the consolation bracket. They will play again at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Against Ritter, the Dragons had a hot start, led by Evan Darrah's eight first-quarter points, but trailed 18-17 at the quarter break. In the second quarter, Ritter led 24-23 when Darrah hit a four-point play. Will Davison followed with a 3-pointer, launching an 18-2 run that put the Dragons up 41-26. Davison kept scoring in the frame, as he tallied 16 of the Dragons' 24 second-quarter points, including two triples and six free throws. The Dragons eventually pushed the lead to 56-38 in the third, with Darrah scoring seven points in the frame. But Ritter began to claw back, finishing the quarter on a 10-2 run that cut the lead to 10. Ritter hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the fourth to cut the lead to seven. Davison answered with a basket, but the Raiders then ripped off an 11-2 run to take a 62-60 lead. Eli Parrett tied the game on a give-and-go, but Ritter answered with a three-point play to go up 65-62. Davison hit two free throws to cut the deficit to one. A Raiders basket pushed the deficit to 67-64. Davison answered with a hoop, and in the final minute, stole the ball near midcourt. The Dragons had two chances to take the lead, but missed two contested shots. Ritter rebounded and hit three free throws in the final six seconds to win. Davison led the Dragons with 31 points. Darrah tallied 21. Evan Study scored seven points. Parrett had five, while Cael Butler scored two. Against Blackhawk, again, the Dragons got off to a good start, with the lead swapping hands several times in the opening quarter. Davison scored nine points in the frame and Parrett four, as the teams went to the quarter break tied at 18 after Cael Butler's 3-pointer at the buzzer . Parrett added five second-quarter points and Study hit an early 3-pointer, but Blackhawk was able to open a 37-33 halftime lead. Darrah hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers to keep the Dragons close, but NP trailed 55-46 after three. Blackhawk then opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to put the game away. Davison led the Dragons with 21 points. Parrett added 12 and Darrah 11. Butler scored six, Study five, Carson Rush four and Layton Pardue three.