New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team had a dominant victory in Wednesday's sectional opener, beating Greenwood 51-23 in the Class 3A Indian Creek sectional. The Dragons dominated from start to finish, using a 22-0 first-half run to take command, and a 12-0 third-quarter run to trigger the running clock. NP (11-11) advances to face Shelbyville (14-10) in Friday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal at Indian Creek. Shelbyville beat Rushville 52-46 in Wednesday's first game. Roncalli (14-8) faces Beech Grove (12-11) in the other semifinal. The teams started slowly, with the first points of the game coming on a steal and layup by Kylee Beranek two minutes in. Greenwood answered with a 3-pointer by Keyara Johnson on the next possession, but that would be the Woodmen's only lead of the night. Kendra Moore answered with two free throws and Sadey Hughbanks answered with back-to-back baskets, touching off a 22-0 run that bridged the quarter. Seven different Dragons scored in the opening frame, with Hughbanks - who tallied four points - the only one to have more than two. NP led 15-3 after one, then scored the first nine points of the second quarter to go up 24-3. Tylar Whitaker and Kylee Beranek hit shots, followed by a 3-pointer from Hughbanks and a hoop from Brown to key the run. Greenwood scored inside to break the run - the Woodmen's first point in more than 10 minutes - but Haven Flagle quickly answered with a 3-pointer. Moore answered with another triple, helping the Dragons build a 32-9 halftime lead. The nine points allowed in the first half were the fewest allowed in a half by the Dragons this season. The Dragons didn't let up in the third, scoring the first 12 points to go up 44-9 and trigger the running clock. Moore and Flagle each hit triples in the run. Seven different players scored one basket each in a 16-2 third quarter that put the Dragons up 48-11. In the final quarter, the Dragons rested their starters. Greenwood outscored NP 12-3, with Brylie Kirstein's first varsity 3-pointer providing the Dragons' scoring. Hughbanks and Flagle led a balanced Dragons attack with nine points each. Moore tallied eight, while Whitaker, Brown and Beranek scored six points each. Beranek also had a double-digit rebounding game. Kirstein scored three, while Brooklyn Crim and Ally White scored two each. Senior Isabelle Reynolds led Greenwood (4-19) with six points.