New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team heads into sectional weekend with a semifinal tilt against host Pendleton Heights. FRIDAY: New Palestine (13-10) vs. Pendleton Heights (15-9) Time: 7:30 p.m. Site: Pendleton Heights HS Tickets: $7/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=65847 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE The 50th season of Dragons girls basketball continues with the sectional semifinals and championship game. After beating Greenfield-Central 42-35 Wednesday, the Dragons face a rematch with Pendleton Heights. They played Jan. 12, a game the Dragons won 52-48. The two teams shared the Hoosier Heritage Conference title this season. The winner faces either Mt. Vernon or Richmond in the championship game. If the Dragons advance to face MV, it would be their sixth tourney meeting in seven years and fifth in the final. Against Pendleton Heights, the Dragons trail the all-time series 28-19. In their Jan. 12 matchup, Vivian Miller scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Dragons to the victory. Kenna Tweedy had a career-high six rebounds. The Dragons have won six sectional titles in their history - in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2018 and 2020. The only other time NP has played in a sectional at Pendleton Heights was in 2004. The Dragons won the title, beating New Castle 75-54 and Pendleton Heights 39-35. NP is 40-42 overall in sectional games and 23-21 in the class era (post-1998). In Class 4A (since 2012), the Dragons are 16-10 in sectional games and 15-12 in tourney games. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons won their third Hoosier Heritage Conference title this season, sharing it with Pendleton Heights. They have also clinched a winning record for the ninth straight season - setting a program record. The streak began in 2015 and has lasted through three head coaches. Previously, the Dragons posted eight straight winning seasons from 1991-99 under the direction of Allen Cooper. The Dragons used a strong shooting second half to beat G-C. NP shot 7-of-12 from the floor in the second half to help put the game away, while holding G-C to 3-for-19 from the floor over the game’s last 14:30. Allie Blum scored 13 points to lead the Dragons. She added nine boards. Vivian Miller and Kendra Moore each scored 10, with Moore tallying a career high. Sadey Hughbanks had four assists. In the regular season finale against Yorktown, the Dragons shot a season-best 51.5% from the field (17-33) and used a big start. NP jumped out to an 18-6 lead after a quarter. The Dragons’ senior starters delivered. Blum had a strong all-around game with 16 points on 6-10 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Miller added 12 points on 4-8 shooting, six rebounds and three steals. Blum reached the 700 point mark for her career against Greenfield-Central and now has 701 points. Miller hit the 500-point mark against Yorktown and has 514 for her career. She needs three rebounds for 200. She reached 150 career assists against G-C. Blum ranks third in the HHC in scoring (17.4 ppg), with Miller 10th (11.6 ppg). Miller is the HHC’s leader in assists (3.3 apg), with Blum fifth (2.5 apg). Blum ranks fourth in the league in steals (3.7 spg). Among players with at least 10 made 3-pointers this season, Kenna Tweedy ranks second in 3-point percentage at 40%. SCOUTING THE FIELD PH is led by one of the state’s top juniors in Kaycie Warfel, who averages 25.2 points and six rebounds per game. Freshman Adah Hupfer averages a double-double. PH has won 15 games in consecutive seasons. One of Richmond or Mt. Vernon will face the winner on Saturday night and will have 12 victories headed to the title game. LOOKING AHEAD The winner faces the winner of the Cathedral sectional (Tech, Warren Central, Lawrence North, Lawrence Central) in the Feb. 10 regional at a site to be announced. 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.