New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team hits the road for two games this weekend, beginning with a rivalry matchup Friday. FRIDAY: NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (10-10, 4-2 HHC) at MT. VERNON MARAUDERS (19-3, 5-2 HHC) Time: 6 p.m. JV, 7:30 p.m. V Site: Mt. Vernon HS Tickets: $6, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=160099 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SATURDAY: NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS (10-10) at MOORESVILLE PIONEERS (8-12) Time: 6 p.m. JV, 7:30 p.m. V Site: Curry Center, Mooresville Tickets: $7, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171794 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE Friday, the Dragons’ oldest active rivalry resumes as they travel north to face Mt. Vernon in their final conference game of the season. The Dragons are 0-3 against ranked teams this season. This is the 94th meeting and 76th regular-season meeting between the two schools, who have played annually since MV consolidated in 1963-64. NP has played either MV or one of its predecessor schools in every recorded year of its basketball history. The Dragons trail the all-time series 56-37, but are 7-5 since the 2018-19 season, including 4-1 in IHSAA tournament meetings in that span. The two schools, both defending regional champions, cannot meet in the tourney this year. The Dragons and Marauders have faced each other on the third Friday in February every year since 1963 - when NP faced MV predecessor Vernon Township. Saturday, the Dragons and Pioneers resume their series after three years off. They had previously played annually from 1997-98 through 2021-22. NP leads the all-time series 14-13, and has won six straight meetings dating to 2017. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons have won four of their last six, including a 56-51 victory over Columbus East Saturday night. After surrendering a 17-0 run, the Dragons responded with 17 straight points to go up 22-17. NP pulled ahead in the late stages of the fourth. Evan Darrah had 15 points on 6-11 shooting to lead the Dragons against the Olympians. Eli Parrett added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Sam Hirschy had 12 rebounds, one off his career high. Against Shelbyville, the Dragons led for much of the second half but gave up a late run. Will Davison led the Dragons with 17 points and four assists. Hirschy added 12. Parrett had 13 points and four assists. The Dragons outrebounded their foes 56-40 last weekend. Parrett is averaging 11.5 points over his last four games. He’s talling 6.8 assists per game over his last six games and is second in the HHC at 5.7 assists per game. He is seventh in the state among juniors. Hirschy is averaging 8.4 rebounds over his last five games. He is sixth in the HHC at 6.4 rebounds per contest. At 18.6 ppg, Davison is third in the HHC in scoring. He is 13th in the state among sophomores. Darrah is eighth in the HHC at 13.8 ppg. Davison has tallied 20-plus points nine times. Darrah has hit the 20-point mark in four games. SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS Mt. Vernon is one of the state’s top teams, led by HHC scoring, rebounding and assists leader and Mr. Basketball hopeful Luke Ertel (24.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 6.8 apg). Max Vise adds 13.3 ppg for the Marauders. They had a 10-game winning streak snapped last week at Pike, but then beat Marion 83-56 and Fort Wayne Snider 59-33. SCOUTING THE PIONEERS Mooresville had lost seven of eight, but snapped that with wins over Columbus East (66-60) and Martinsville (76-74) last week. Christopher Thompson-Moore leads the Pioneers, averaging 17.6 ppg and 4.1 apg. Silas Smith adds 13.1 ppg. This is Mooresville’s last game of the regular season. The Pioneers lost 76-71 in OT Tuesday at Danville. They host Greenwood Friday before facing the Dragons. FOLLOW THE GAMES All games, home and away, are broadcast at NewPalRadio.com. Home games are also simulcast on a pay-per-view basis on IHSAAtv.org. NPHS athletics is online (NewPalestineAthletics.com), on X (@NPHSDragons), Facebook and Instagram (@newpalestinedragons)