New Palestine High School

The Dragons boys basketball team enters the penultimate weekend of the season with a rivalry game and caps it off with Senior Night. FRIDAY: New Palestine Dragons (17-4, 5-1 HHC) at Mt. Vernon Marauders (13-8, 4-1 HHC) Time: 6 p.m. JV/7:30 p.m. V Site: Mt. Vernon HS Tickets: $6/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=69178 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SATURDAY: Whiteland Warriors (12-9) at New Palestine Dragons (17-4) Time: 6 p.m. JV/7:30 p.m. V Site: New Palestine HS Tickets: $6/at gate or https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=69240 Audio: NewPalRadio.com Video: IHSAAtv.org ($) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons open the weekend with the 91st meeting against Mt. Vernon and their annual third Friday in February date. The two schools have played on this date since MV was formed in 1963-64 - and NP faced MV’s predecessor Vernon Township on this date the year before. NP trails the series 54-36, but has won six of the last nine. They have met twice five times in the last six years. Last year, NP won a 66-52 game in the regular season and a 71-57 tilt in the sectional final. One of NP or MV has won the sectional six consecutive years, and they’ve met in the final in four of those seasons. The Dragons are ranked in the IBCA poll for the third straight week, moving up two spots to No. 16 after extending their winning streak to six games. Saturday, the Dragons host Whiteland for Senior Night and the 50th meeting between the schools. NP will honor Brady Armstrong prior to the game. The Dragons have won four straight meetings against the Warriors, including a 66-50 decision last year. Whiteland hosts Martinsville Friday night in its final conference game. This is the third of four games the Dragons will play against the Mid-State. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons set multiple records last weekend, with Julius Gizzi breaking the school single-season scoring record and Moses Haynes the assists record in Saturday’s victory over Connersville. Gizzi scored 34 points and now has 628 for the season, breaking the mark of 608 held by his older brother Maximus since 2020. Haynes had nine assists Saturday after tallying 10 on Friday to give him 145 for the season, breaking Jeff Mitchell’s 31-year-old single-season mark of 136. Haynes also had 14 assists in Tuesday’s 63-61 victory at 3A No. 5 Guerin Catholic, a school record. Haynes has four 10+-assist games this season and is averaging 10.4 assists in his last five games. Haynes also tied his season and career highs with 21 points Saturday against Connersville. Saturday’s 86-39 victory against Connersville was the 11th-largest margin of victory in school history. Gizzi had his third career double-double against Connersville, as he added 13 rebounds to his 34 points. Ben Slagley tallied his eighth career double-double - and fourth of the year - with 11 points and 11 boards Friday against Shelbyville. Gizzi is the state’s second-leading scorer at 29.9 ppg. Haynes is third in assists at 7.3 per game. Each leads the HHC in their respective category. Gizzi (7.5) and Slagley (7.2) are first and second in the HHC in rebounding. Haynes is also fifth in the HHC in steals (2.1). SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS MV was hit by injuries early but has won five of six to improve to 13-8. The Marauders swept Mooresville (59-51), Madison (63-40) and Pike (70-66) last week. Julien Smith (13.8 ppg) and Elijah Parra (10.4 ppg) lead MV, which has been bolstered by the return of guard Luke Ertel from a football injury. SCOUTING THE WARRIORS Whiteland has dropped four of its last six, including a 78-72 decision Friday at Decatur Central. Whiteland has four players scoring in double figures, led by senior Jaskirat Banwait (14.4 Ppg) and junior Gavin Stubbe (13.5 ppg). LOOKING AHEAD The sectional draw will take place Sunday. The Dragons are in the Class 4A Greenfield-Central sectional. The Dragons close the regular season Friday, Feb. 23 at Greenwood. 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: Aaron Smith