New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team continues a three-game week with a pair of home games this weekend. FRIDAY: Roncalli Royals (7-4) at (RV) New Palestine Dragons (10-2) Time: 6 p.m. F/JV, 7:30 p.m. V Site: NPHS Promotions: Homecoming Tickets: $6/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=65098 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine SATURDAY: Franklin Grizzly Cubs (10-2) at (RV) New Palestine Dragons (10-2) Time: 6 p.m. F/JV, 7:30 p.m. V Site: NPHS Tickets: $6/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=65210 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org/NewPalestine SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons continue their first three-game week of the season with a home weekend, greeting neighboring Roncalli for the Friday night tilt. Both weekend opponents sport winning records. The Dragons trail the all-time series 11-5, but have won two straight and four of the last six, including a 58-41 victory last season. This is one of two meetings between the Dragons and a Circle City Conference team this season. NP will visit Guerin Catholic Feb. 6. Saturday, the Dragons and Grizzly Cubs meet to wrap up the weekend. NP has won four straight meetings, including a 63-52 decision last year. It’s the first of four games between the Dragons and the Mid-State Conference. Franklin plays conference and county rival Whiteland Friday night. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons knocked Richmond from the ranks of the unbeaten Tuesday with a 63-59 victory. Richmond had been 16-0 entering the contest. Julius Gizzi led the Dragons with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Moses Haynes added 13 points and seven assists. The Dragons’ victory Tuesday brought head coach Trent Whitaker into a tie with Brian Kehrt as the Dragons’ career boys basketball coaching wins leader. Whitaker’s teams have 126 wins in nine seasons. He has led the Dragons to three sectional and two HHC titles. The Dragons enter this contest on a five-game winning streak. Gizzi has tallied 30 points in eight of his last nine contests, the only player to score 30-plus eight times in a season. Gizzi is averaging 32.8 ppg over his last eight games and 29.9 ppg for the season. He ranks third in the state in scoring. Junior Moses Haynes is one of the state’s top point guards, and showed why Jan. 5 against Delta, as he dished 13 assists in the Dragons’ victory over Delta and had seven against Richmond. Slagley needs one assist to reach 100 for his career. Gizzi needs two points to reach 600 for his career. Haynes hit 150 career assists and 200 points at Richmond . Slagley now has 53 career blocked shots, fourth-most in school history. He needs one block to tie Seth Cox for third place. Gizzi (7.7) and Slagley (7.3) are 1-2 in the HHC lead in rebounding. Haynes (6.3) leads the conference in assists, with Slagley fourth (3.8). Haynes also ranks eighth in the state in assists. Haynes is also fourth in the HHC in steals (2.2). SCOUTING THE ROYALS Roncalli is 7-4, having alternated wins and losses in its last five games. The Royals beat Triton Central 51-33 Wednesday. Senior Drake Keggeris leads Roncalli with a 19.2 ppg average and aadds 5.0 rpg. Sophomore Joe Taylor adds 10.6 ppg. Taylor also averages 6.4 rebounds per contest. SCOUTING THE GRIZZLY CUBS Franklin is off to its best start since beginning 11-2 in 2012-13. A big reason why is senior Micah Davis, who has had a strong start to the season, averaging 24.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest. Senior Wyatt Nickleson adds 12.2 ppg. Franklin’s two losses are to Noblesville and at Whiteland, the latter in the county tourney. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons travel to Lawrence North and Yorktown next week. The site of Wednesday's Lawrence North game is currently TBA. The Yorktown game will be Friday. The next home game is Feb. 1 against Perry Meridian. 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