New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team had a dominant first half and remained in control throughout a 75-51 season-opening victory Wednesday at home against Richmond. After the teams traded baskets in the opening minutes, the Dragons scored 17 straight points to take a 23-8 lead, and extended the run with the first 12 points of the second quarter to go up 36-10, overall, a 30-2 run. The Dragons held Richmond without a field goal for 10 minutes of the opening half. Ben Slagley started the run with a driving shot, Blaine Nunnally followed with a 3-pointer and the Dragons were off and running. Eian Roudebush and Julius Gizzi also hit triples in the first-quarter run. In the second quarter, Ian Stephens scored nine of his game-high 24 points to help push the lead to 36-10 and eventually to 46-20 at the break. Roudebush and Gizzi also hit 3-pointers and Slagley scored four points in the frame. The Dragons opened the third quarter with five straight points to push the lead to 31, its largest of the contest. Richmond cut the lead to 17 early in the fourth, but the Dragons put the contest away with solid shooting. Four Dragons scored in double figures, led by Stephens' 24. He tallied eight in the opening frame, nine in the second and seven more points in the second half. He hit nine field goals, including a 3-pointer, and was 5-of-8 from the line. Blaine Nunnally added 15 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the contest. Gizzi hit a trio of triples en route to a 14-point game. Slagley added 12 points, scoring eight in the opening half. In addition, Roudebush scored seven points and Bryant Nunnally three. All 10 Dragons played significant minutes and had contributions to the victory. Cedric Horton led Richmond with 17 points, with 15 coming after halftime. Mason Carpenter added 11 points, but was held to five after the opening frame. The Dragons (1-0) are off until Dec. 2, when they host Eastern Hancock, with a 6 p.m. JV start. The Dragons also won the JV game 74-45, led by 17 points from Evan Darrah and 13 from Keagan Harrison.