New Palestine High School

The Dragons girls basketball team heads back to Indian Creek for the sectional semifinal round. FRIDAY: New Palestine Dragons (11-11) vs. Shelbyville Golden Bears (14-10) Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 Site: Indian Creek HS (Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/y1MvEC154Pr4irg26) Tickets: $7, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=113472 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SATURDAY: Championship game (NP/Shelbyville winner vs. Roncalli/Beech Grove winner) Time: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Site: Indian Creek HS Tickets, $7, https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=113473 Audio: NewPalRadio.com SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons continue play in the sectional with a rematch against Shelbyville. NP is seeking to advance to its third consecutive sectional championship game and 19th in school history. The Dragons have played in the sectional championship game in six of the last seven seasons. NP has won six sectional titles - in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2018 and 2020. The 2004 title was in Class 3A, while the 2018 and 2020 championships were in Class 4A. The Dragons advanced with a 51-23 victory over Greenwood in Wednesday’s sectional opener. The Dragons are returning to Class 3A, where they competed from 1998-2011. The Dragons had spent the last 13 seasons in Class 4A. NP leads the all-time series with Shelbyville 20-10, winning 10 of the last 12 meetings. The Golden Bears won this year’s regular season matchup 42-38. NP rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to close to within two points in the fourth quarter, but were unable to complete the comeback. If the Dragons win Friday night, it will be the program’s 11th consecutive season with a .500 or better final record. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons dominated the sectional opener Wednesday against Greenwood, using a 22-0 first-half run to build a 24-3 lead. NP led 32-9 at halftime and extended the lead to 44-9 early in the second half and 48-11 by the end of the third quarter. Nine different Dragons scored in Wednesday’s contest, with Sadey Hughbanks tallying nine points and four rebounds. Haven Flagle also had nine points, three assists and seven boards. Kylee Beranek added six points and a team-high nine boards, as well as three assists. Kendra Moore added eight points. Hughbanks is averaging 11.0 ppg over her last five games. She leads NP at 9.3 ppg. The Dragons shot a season-best 45% (19-42) against Greenwood. They held the Woodmen to 18% shooting (8-44). Beranek has 20 boards in her last two games - as she had 11 rebounds in the regular season finale against Yorktown. Her highs came with 13 boards against Delta and 12 against Greenwood. Beranek is seventh in the HHC in rebounding at 6.6 rpg. Guard Gabbie Brown gives the Dragons a boost off the bench as the sixth player. She is sixth in the HHC with 2.9 assists per game, and is third on the Dragons in scoring at 6.6 per game. The Dragons have gotten defensive in 2025. Three times, they held teams below the 30-point mark, beating Triton Central 47-29 Jan. 14, and Waldron 62-21 nine days later, followed by the 51-23 sectional-opening win over Greenwood. They marked the first time since Dec. 21, 2023 the Dragons held a team below 30 points. SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS Shelbyville is seeking its third consecutive 15-win season. Maddy Jones (10.8 ppg), Hannah Baker (9.6 ppg) and Jayla Ash (9.1 ppg) lead the Bears. They led from wire to wire in Wednesday’s 52-46 victory over Rushville. Sophomore Elliot Leffler leads Roncalli, averaging 17.0 ppg. Junior Brennah Cerny adds 9.5 ppg and senior Sara Rosko adds 9.0 ppg. Roncalli enters the sectional having won five straight games. Beech Grove beat Indian Creek 49-45 in the sectional opener. The Hornets are led by senior Mylee Boling (15.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and sophomore Maryiah Marshall (9.5 ppg). FOLLOW US Follow the Dragons on Facebook (@newpalestinedragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons), Instagram (@newpalestinedragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com). All Dragons home games are broadcast live at NewPalRadio.com and available via pay-per-view at IHSAAtv.org. NewPalRadio.com also broadcasts all IHSAA tournament games and select road games. Photo: Abby Allen