New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team withstood an early 3-point shooting barrage from Southport, then began to hit from distance themselves to turn the tide and pull away to a 73-60 victory Saturday at the Southport Fieldhouse. Julius Gizzi scored 37 points - the 10th-highest total in school history - to lead three Dragons in double figures. The victory gives the Dragons a 14-4 record on the season. Gizzi scored the Dragons' first nine points, but Southport answered with strong early 3-point shooting, as the Cardinals hit three 3-pointers and added another on a three-shot free throw. Moses Haynes hit a triple and Austin McMahan two inside shots to draw the Dragons into an 18-all tie after a first quarter that saw multiple lead changes. The lead continued to swap hands in the second, with Southport's Jack Turner hitting two 3-pointers and scoring eight points, while Gizzi scored seven. The Dragons trailed 30-29 at the half. Turner and Southport's Imon Cousins hit early 3-pointers to push the Cardinals' edge to 39-34 early in the third quarter. But the Dragons began to heat up. Gizzi and Brady Armstrong hit 3-pointers and Keagan Harrison a free throw to draw NP into a 41-all tie. Four free throws from Gizzi and a three-point play by Ben Slagley helped the Dragons build a 48-45 lead at the end of three. In the fourth, the Dragons surged ahead by 10, as Gizzi scored two quick baskets and hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 12. The Dragons' pressbreak found McMahan inside for six points. Gizzi scored 12 of the Dragons' 25 points in the frame as they pulled away to the victory. In addition to Gizzi's 37 points, Moses Haynes added 11, hitting three 3-pointers. McMahan scored 10 points. Slagley and Armstrong tallied seven each, while Harrison scored one. Turner led Southport with 16 points, while Cousins scored 14. The Dragons dropped the JV game 42-32. The Dragons are next in action Tuesday night at Guerin Catholic.