New Palestine High School

The Dragons girls basketball team returns to the hardwood Thursday with a home game against Waldron. Waldron Mohawks (6-12) at New Palestine Dragons (10-9) Time: 6 p.m. JV/7:30 p.m. V Site: NPHS gymnasium Tickets: $6/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=64944 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons play their penultimate home game of the season as they face the Waldron Mohawks. This is Waldron’s first-ever visit to NPHS in girls basketball. The teams have met once, a 70-39 victory for the Dragons last season. Allie Blum had 15 points in that contest. The Dragons have won four straight games on their home court and four of their last five games overall. Two more victories would clinch the Dragons’ ninth consecutive winning season, setting a program record. The Dragons had eight straight winning seasons from 1991-99. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons posted one of their biggest victories in their recent history Friday, beating Pendleton Heights 52-48. The Dragons built a 17-point lead in the third quarter and played solid defense down the stretch to seal the victory. The win puts them in position to clinch a piece of the Hoosier Heritage Conference title, which they can do with a victory Jan. 25 at Yorktown. Senior Vivian Miller set a career high with 25 points Friday against Pendleton Heights. Miller hit 9-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line. In the third quarter, she scored nine points - hitting an early 3-pointer to help the Dragons build a 17-point lead. She then scored two critical three-point plays to stave off PH runs. Senior Allie Blum tallied 12 points against PH, including three late free throws that helped seal the game. Her third-quarter 3-pointer gave the Dragons their biggest lead of the game at 35-18. Blum also had five rebounds - four offensive - and four steals. Sophomore Kenna Tweedy tied her career high with six rebounds - including four on the offensive glass. She scored five points coming off the bench, all on putbacks. Kendra Moore also tied her career high with five boards. The Dragons had 10 offensive boards and a 39% offensive rebounding percentage against the taller Arabians. The victory marked two straight wins over teams with winning records. On Tuesday, the Dragons rallied from a 14-point deficit Tuesday to beat Triton Central 43-37, using a three-point barrage in the second quarter. The Dragons scored 24 consecutive points from behind the 3-point arc, hitting a season-high eight triples for the game. Sadey Hughbanks hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the contest, tallying 14 in the second quarter. The 16-point effort was one shy of her career high of 17, set Dec. 5 against Shelbyville. Tweedy started the outside shooting run with a 3-pointer to end the first quarter. Moore hit two and Blum one. NP hit 8-of-12 from deep in that stretch and finished the first half with a 17-0 run. Blum dished a career-high seven assists Tuesday against TC. Miller ranks second in the HHC in assists, dishing 3.5 per game. Blum is fifith at 2.6 assists per contest. Blum ranks third in the HHC in scoring at 17.8 ppg. Miller is 11th at 10.3 ppg. Blum also ranks third in the conference in steals at 3.8 per contest. Miller is tied for eighth (2.5 spg). SCOUTING THE MOHAWKS Waldron enters the week having dropped five straight games, all by double digits. Their most recent defeat was a 71-30 loss Saturday at Eastern Hancock. Freshman Grace Fischer leads Waldron, averaging 15.4 ppg. Senior Alyssa Benson adds 12.2 ppg. LOOKING AHEAD Next week, the Dragons play their final week of the regular season with Senior Night against Greensburg on Tuesday, followed by a Thursday trip to Yorktown in which the Dragons can clinch a piece of the HHC title. The IHSAA sectional draw will be held Sunday, Jan. 21. The Dragons will compete in the sectional at Pendleton Heights this season. 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. Photo: Aaron Smith