New Palestine High School

With three games in four days, the New Palestine boys basketball team used this week as a sectional simulation. The Dragons passed it with flying colors - fittingly, defeating a potential sectional opponent in the week's finale. They jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening quarter and never looked back in a 97-49 victory at Indian Creek. The Dragons' 97-point output tied for eighth-most in school history. Julius Gizzi led three Dragons in double figures with 36 points, his season high. He crossed the 1,500 point barrier for his career and now has 1,529 points - 83 away from the NPHS scoring record. The Dragons scorched the nets early, jumping out to a 26-11 lead after a quarter. Gizzi scored seven points, while Moses Haynes hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Will Davison added five points. IC found its offensive footing in the second quarter, but the Dragons added 20 more points to go up 46-28. Gizzi tallied 14 points in the frame, including 6-6 from the line. Haynes added his third 3-pointer of the game. The Dragons broke it open in the third, outscoring Indian Creek 31-11 and triggering a running clock. Evan Darrah opened the frame with a 3-pointer and a basket, sandwiched around a Gizzi hoop. Gizzi then scored eight straight points, including two 3-pointers. The Dragons' leading scorer hit three 3-pointers in the frame and scored 15 points, giving him 36 for the day. Ben Slagley, Haynes and Darrah added five points each. The Dragons rested many starters for the fourth quarter, but still scored 20 points, as seven different players found the scoresheet. In addition to Gizzi's 36 points - which came in three quarters - Haynes scored 14. Darrah added 10 points for his second double-figure game of the season. Davison scored nine, setting a career high. Austin McMahan scored eight points. Slagley tallied seven. Liam Atkinson scored five, Eli Parrett three, Axtyn Hamblen and Sam Hirschy two each, and Keagan Harrison one. The 97 points were the most scored since a 105-89 victory over Waldron on Feb. 18, 1989. Coupled with Friday's 90-61 victory over Yorktown, it marked the first time the Dragons have scored 90-plus in back-to-back games since tallying three straight 100-point games in February 1967. The Dragons also won the JV game 65-30. The Dragons, who have won nine consecutive games. next play Thursday at Perry Meridian.