New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team opens sectional play Wednesday at Rushville against Greenwood. WEDNESDAY: New Palestine Dragons (14-8) vs. Greenwood Woodmen (1-21) Time: 7:30 p.m. Site: Memorial Gym, Rushville Tickets: Single-session: $8 at gate (gates 1/3/4 will be open) or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171969&p=262536 All-session: $20, at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171969 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: none SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons open sectional play with a rematch against Greenwood. This is the second consecutive year the two teams have opened the sectional against each other, and their fifth all-time tournament meeting. The Dragons lead the all-time series 31-13. They have played annually since 2000-01. NP is 3-1 in tourney meetings, including a 51-23 victory last season in the sectional opener. The winner faces either Roncalli or Beech Grove in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal. The Dragons have played in the sectional championship game in seven of the last eight seasons. NP has won six sectional titles - in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2018 and 2020. The 2004 title was in Class 3A, while the 2018 and 2020 championships were in Class 4A. The Dragons are in their second season of their return Class 3A, where they competed from 1998-2011. The Dragons had spent the intervening 13 seasons in Class 4A. This is the Dragons’ first-ever tournament game at Rushville. DRAGONS NOTES With 14 wins, the Dragons have clinched their 12th consecutive season with a .500 or better record, a program record. They are seeking their first 15-win season in five years. The Dragons enter the sectional with back-to-back victories over quality teams, beating Yorktown 54-49 and Eastern Hancock 62-59 on back-to-back nights. Against EH, the Dragons had four double-figure scorers for the first time since Nov. 30, 2024. Brooklyn Crim tallied 17 points on 7-13 shooting. She added eight rebounds. Kendra Moore was 5-7 from the floor and scored 14 points. She hit all three of her 3-point attempts. Sadey Hughbanks added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Gabbie Brown added 10 points and six steals. Brown’s six steals against EH tied a team season-high. Haven Flagle also had six steals against Batesville and Greenwood. Hughbanks is the Dragons’ scoring leader, but she has turned up her game in January. She is averaging 14.3 ppg in 2026, with eight double-figure games. She tied her career high twice with 18 points against both Bloomington North and Pendleton Heights. Crim has also had a strong 2026. She is averaging 12.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg in her last six games. The Dragons finished in third place in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. SCOUTING THE WOODMEN Greenwood has struggled this season to a 1-21 record, with the one win a 45-43 overtime victory over Edinburgh on Jan. 12. They enter the sectional on a six-game skid. LOOKING AHEAD The winner faces either Roncalli (21-3) or Beech Grove (14-8) in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal at Rushville. The Dragons lost a tight 58-56 game at Roncalli on Jan. 20. They have not faced Beech Grove. Four of the seven teams in the Rushville sectional have winning records. FOLLOW US Follow the Dragons on Facebook (@newpalestinedragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons), Instagram (@newpalestinedragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com). All Dragons home games are broadcast live at NewPalRadio.com and available via pay-per-view at IHSAAtv.org. NewPalRadio.com also broadcasts all IHSAA tournament games and select road games.