New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team rallied to cut an 11-point deficit to one in the fourth quarter Tuesday night, but were unable to complete the comeback as the Dragons fell 46-36 to Roncalli. The Dragons trailed 31-20 as Roncalli opened the third quarter on an 8-3 run, fueled by nine Dragons turnovers in the frame. But the Dragons began clawing back, with baskets by Haven Flagle and Kylee Beranek and two free throws each from Kendra Moore and Gabbie Brown, cutting the deficit to 33-28 going into the fourth quarter. The Dragons gave up an early basket and struggled to find their offense early in the frame, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Moore and Brooklyn Crim drew NP within one at 35-34 midway through the quarter. NP forced another stop, and Moore drove down the lane and drew contact as she went up for a shot in tight. However, the official whistled an offensive foul. Roncalli scored on the other end, then forced a turnover, scored again, grabbed an offensive rebound on a free throw miss and then put the game away at the line. The Dragons had a strong start, building a 10-4 lead on a basket by Tylar Whitaker and eight points from Sadey Hughbanks - two 3-pointers sandwiching two free throws. But Roncalli responded with a run to go up 14-12 after a quarter, and extended it to 16-12 before a basket by Crim. But the Royals responded with their fourth 3-pointer of the night to go up 19-14, and eventually took a 23-17 lead at the break on a long 3-pointer in the final minute of the half. Moore led the Dragons with nine points. Hughbanks added eight. Crim tallied five. Whitaker, Beranek and Brown scored four each. Flagle added two. The Dragons moved to 8-9 on the season. They next play Thursday at Waldron.