New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team scored 30 points in the first quarter Friday and never looked back in an 81-54 victory over Eastern Hancock. The Dragons opened their season with a victory, while EH fell to 0-2 on the year. Julius Gizzi scored 33 points to lead the Dragons, playing only three quarters. He tallied 24 in the first half. He also added nine rebounds. Moses Haynes had 16 points and nine assists, while Ben Slagley scored nine points and added nine rebounds and seven assists. The Dragons hit six 3-pointers in the opening quarter - two each by Moses Haynes, Evan Darrah and Gizzi - in racing out to a 30-9 lead. Gizzi scored 12 points in the opening frame. In the second, Gizzi tallied 12 points and Ben Slagley five as the Dragons built a 53-28 lead at the break. They quickly pushed the lead to the running clock threshhold in the third, as Haynes scored seven points and Gizzi nine in the quarter, extending the lead to 70-35. Eli Parrett, Will Davison and Axtyn Hamblen all hit triples in the fourth quarter. The Dragons hit 14 3-pointers in the game. Darrah tallied six points, while Parrett had five, McMahan and Hamblen four each, Davison three and Keagan Harrison one. The Dragons are back in action Saturday at home against Greenwood, with a 4 p.m. JV start, followed by the varsity at 5:30 p.m.