New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team finished as the runner-up at Friday's Plainfield Winter Classic. The Dragons beat Plainfield 52-46 in the opening round, then fell to Roncalli 60-53 in the championship game. The Dragons seized control of the Plainfield game in the third quarter. After a back-and-forth first half, the Dragons went into the locker room trailing 27-25. They outscored the Quakers 17-8 in the third quarter to take a 42-35 lead. Isabella Gizzi hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the quarter, while Vivian Miller, Allie Blum and Kylee Beranek each hit shots. Gizzi then scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including four consecutive free throws to ice the game. Sadey Hughbanks also hit a big shot in the final frame. Blum hit two first-quarter 3-pointers and scored eight points in the opening frame to lead the Dragons to an early 15-12 lead before the Quakers outscored the Dragons 15-10 in the second quarter. Gizzi led the way with 26 points. Blum added 10, Miller eight, Hughbanks six and Beranek two. Payton Benge led Plainfield with 19 points. In the championship game, Gizzi tallied 34 points, the third-highest total of her career and fourth-most in school history, but the Dragons dropped a seven-point decision in a close game. The teams played to a 16-all tie in the opening quarter, with Gizzi scoring nine points in the frame and Miller tallying five. Roncalli outscored the Dragons 13-8 in the second quarter, with Gizzi scoring all eight of the Dragons' points, including four from the line, to take a 29-24 lead at the half. The Dragons cut back into the lead in the third with strong shooting. Gizzi hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points in the frame, while Miller and Blum each hit triples in a 20-point quarter that drew the Dragons within one at 45-44. Roncalli was able to take an early lead in the fourth and hit 4-of-8 from the line down the stretch to seal the game. Gizzi scored nine points in the final frame as the Dragons tried to complete a comeback. Gizzi hit 10 field goals, including three triples, and hit 11-of-14 from the line in the contest. Miller added 10 points. Tylar Whitaker scored four, Blum three and Hughbanks two. The Dragons are now 8-8 on the season. They next play Jan. 10 at Triton Central.