New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team played a tight contest Friday at Pendleton Heights, but kept the Arabians at arm's length for much of the game in a 59-51 Dragons victory. Julius Gizzi scored seven first-quarter points - hitting an early 3-pointer and adding four free throws - and Austin McMahan added three as NP built an early 16-10 lead. In the second, the Dragons pushed the lead to eight, with Gizzi and Keagan Harrison scoring four points each in the frame, but PH's Caden Sims hit two late baskets to cut the lead to 28-24. The Arabians hung in, led by Sims' nine third-quarter points, but the Dragons led 42-39 going into the final frame, as Gizzi scored eight points in the frame, including a mid-quarter three-point play. In the fourth, McMahan, Ben Slagley and Gizzi hit early baskets, and Moses Haynes got hot, hitting a 3-pointer and a hoop, to keep the Dragons on top. Haynes scored seven in the frame. Gizzi led the Dragons with 23 points. Haynes added 10, while Harrison scored eight - one shy of his career high. McMahan and Slagley tallied seven points each. Evan Darrah and Will Davison each scored two. Sims led PH with 20 points. The Dragons improved to 11-2 on the season, including 3-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference play. They next play Jan. 24 at Franklin.