New Palestine High School

The Dragons girls basketball team returns home for a matinee against Franklin County. THURSDAY: Franklin County (10-3) at New Palestine (7-8) Time: 1 p.m. JV/2:30 p.m. V Location: NPHS Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine ($) Tickets: $6/cash at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=63019 SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons close the 2023 portion of their schedule with a Thursday matinee against Franklin County. The Dragons are looking to head into 2024 with a .500 record against a strong FC team. This is the first all-time meeting between the two schools. The Dragons are 1-2 against Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference teams this season. They will play five EIAC teams this year. Franklin County is one of two new opponents to the Dragons’ schedule this season. The Dragons will also play Bloomington North for the first time in their history next Thursday. The teams have two common opponents so far. The Dragons are 2-0 (beat Shelbyville 56-49, beat Batesville 59-39); while the Wildcats are 1-1 (lost to Shelbyville 50-46, beat Batesville 43-41). DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons enter the week after a 60-22 victory over Southport, their biggest victory margin since a 68-24 victory over New Castle Nov. 29, 2022, and their fewest points allowed since a 68-17 victory over Connersville Nov. 7, 2019. The Dragons allowed only nine field goals in the game and outscored the Cardinals 36-6 in the second half, setting season-bests for a half in both categories. The 26 points scored in the third quarter tied a season-best, while the one point allowed in the fourth also tied a season-best. Senior Allie Blum scored 28 points - the second-highest total of her career - against Southport. She hit 11-23 from the floor and 6-9 from the line. Earlier in the season, she scored a career-high 36 - tying a school record for points in a regulation game - against Warren Central. Blum has scored in double figures in 14 of the Dragons’ 15 games this season and tallies 18.1 ppg. Junior Kylee Beranek added nine points against Southport. The Dragons had 16 offensive boards against Southport. Sophomore Sadey Hughbanks grabbed nine total rebounds, while Blum had eight. Senior Vivian Miller returned to the lineup aginst Southport after a two-game absence and tallied three assists. She leads the HHC in assists with 4.2 per game. Blum is seventh (2.3 apg). The Dragons have won three of their last four games on their home court. At 18.1 ppg, Blum is currently third in the Hoosier Heritage Conference in scoring. Miller ranks 10th in the conference at 11.3 ppg. Blum also ranks third in steals (3.8 spg), with Miller eighth (2.6 spg). SCOUTING THE WILDCATS Franklin County enters this contest on a four-game winning streak, the most recent an 80-55 victory over Waldron Dec. 22. Senior Nicole Mears leads the Wildcats, scoring 18.1 ppg and grabbing 7.6 rpg. Sophomore Ruby Singer adds 10.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg. The Wildcats are building off a 16-7 season, their most wins since 2017. They are seeking their first back-to-back winning seasons since 2015-17. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons hit the road next Thursday to play Bloomington North before a four-game January homestand, which begins Jan. 9 against Triton Central and is followed with the annual doubleheader with Pendleton Heights Jan. 12. FOLLOW US Follow the Dragons on Facebook (@newpalestinedragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons), Instagram (@newpalestinedragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com). All Dragons boys basketball games, home and away, are broadcast at NewPalRadio.com. All home games are also provided via pay-per-view at IHSAAtv.org. Photo credit; Aaron Smith