New Palestine High School

Vivian Miller scored a career-high 25 points, leading the New Palestine girls basketball team to a 52-48 victory over Pendleton Heights, moving the Dragons into a first-place tie in the loss column in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. The Dragons improved to 5-1 in the conference. A victory in the Jan. 25 season finale at Yorktown will clinch a share of the HHC title. The Dragons jumped out to an early lead, as Miller scored seven first-quarter points, while Allie Blum and Ella Holman did a tremendous job guarding PH leading scorer Kaycie Warfel, who was held to four first-quarter points, allowing NP to jump out to a 14-7 lead after one. Miller added seven points in the second quarter, with Blum scoring four and Kenna Tweedy scoring three on key offensive rebounds, allowing the Dragons to build a lead as high as 29-14. PH added a late basket to cut the lead to 13 at the break. Early 3-pointers by Miller and Blum helped the Dragons push the lead to 35-18 in the third before PH mounted a comeback, scoring 10 straight points in an extended 16-3 run that cut the Dragons' edge to 38-34. Miller had a three-point play to stop the 10-point run, then sliced through the defense again for a three-point play to make it 41-34. A late free throw by Sadey Hughbanks gave the Dragons a 42-36 lead going into the fourth. Miller and Kylee Beranek hit early baskets in the fourth, but PH drew back within four before Beranek hit another open layup to push the lad to 48-42. PH hit a basket with 1:44 left, but the Dragons were able to get a free throw from Allie Blum to extend the lead to five with 41 seconds to go. PH hit a shot with 27 seconds left to cut the lead to three, but Tweedy and Blum hit three free throws in the final minute to seal it. Miller's 25 points eclipsed her previous career high of 21, set earlier this season at Whiteland. Blum added 12 points. Hughbanks scored five. Tweedy and Beranek tallied four each, while Kendra Moore scored two. Warfel led PH with 21 points, while Adah Hupfer scored 13. The Dragons improved to 10-9 on the season. They next play Thursday at home against Waldron.