New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team used a massive first-half run to take a double-digit lead and take command Tuesday in a 53-43 victory over Rushville. The Dragons surrendered the first eight points of the game, but finished the first quarter with a 10-3 spurt, then opened the second with an 18-1 run to take a 28-12 lead. The lead would eventually reach 17 points on multiple occasions. In the opening quarter, the Dragons were held without a point for the game's first five minutes, as Rushville's Leonie Boyer scored the game's first eight points. Two free throws by Gabbie Brown broke the ice for the Dragons, and it was quickly followed by 3-pointers by Sadey Hughbanks and Haven Flagle and a putback by Kenna Tweedy in a 10-3 run, cutting the deficit to 11-10 after a quarter. The Dragons held Rushville without a field goal for more than 10 minutes. They opened the second quarter on fire, taking the lead on early 3-pointers by Tweedy and Hughbanks. Tweedy followed with a basket and a free throw, giving the Dragons a 19-11 lead. Tweedy hit two more triples and Gabbie Brown one - the latter from NBA range - to push the lead to 28-12 and force a Rushville timeout. The Lions' Gracie Buzzard hit a triple out of the timeout, but Brown immediately answered with her second triple in as many possessions. Rushville answered with a hoop, but Brooklyn Crim added a free throw to give the Dragons a 32-17 lead at the break. The Dragons quickly pushed the lead to 17 on a basket by Kylee Beranek to open the second half. Rushville quickly scored five points to cut the lead to 34-22, but the Dragons again clamped down on defense, allowing only one basket the remainder of the quarter. Haven Flagle hit two runners in traffic to help the Dragons open up a 41-24 lead after three. The Dragons maintained the lead in the fourth, with six different players scoring. Rushville's Trisha Morgan hit three late 3-pointers to cut the lead to nine before a late free throw by Ally White sealed the double-digit margin. Tweedy scored 12 of her career-high 16 points in the second quarter. She hit three 3-pointers in the frame. Hughbanks added 12 points, while Brown tallied 10. Flagle scored eight points. Beranek tallied four, while Kendra Moore, Crim and White scored one each. Morgan led Rushville with 15 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter. Boyer added 14. The Dragons also won the JV game 27-24. The Dragons (3-2) are next in action Saturday at home against Whiteland, with a 6 p.m. JV tipoff, followed by the varsity.