New Palestine High School

The New Palestine girls basketball team was unable to come back from an early deficit Thursday and dropped a 55-44 decision to Yorktown on Senior Night. Prior to the game, the Dragons honored senior Isabella Gizzi, who holds every NPHS scoring record. She reached two milestones during the game, in which she scored 28 points. Gizzi crossed the 1,600 point barrier and now has 1,608 for her career. She also became the first female in NPHS history to reach 500 points in a season, upping her total to 524 for the year. The Dragons struggled to hit shots early and fell behind 16-11 after a quarter, with Gizzi scoring five points to lead the team. Yorktown opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to build the lead to 12. Gizzi answered with seven points on the next three possessions - a 3-pointer, a driving shot and two free throws - to cut the deficit to 23-18. But the Tigers finished the half on an 8-0 run and led 31-18 at the break. The Dragons started the second half strong defensively, holding Yorktown to two points in the opening four minutes. They cut the deficit to nine on three occasions, as Allie Blum scored four points and Gizzi eight in the quarter, and trailed 39-30 going into the fourth. Gizzi hit two free throws and Vivian Miller scored on a drive to cut the deficit to 39-34 early in the fourth. After a Yorktown basket, Miller drilled a 3-pointer to draw the Dragons within 41-37, but that was as close as the Dragons would come. Yorktown scored the next four points to go up eight and the Dragons were unable to close the deficit. Gizzi scored eight points in the frame and Miller six. The Tigers hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to put the game away. In addition to Gizzi's 28 points, Miller scored eight and Blum six. Sadey Hughbanks added two points. Amari Wright led Yorktown with 18 points. The Dragons finish the regular season 11-11. They open sectional play at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Vernon against Richmond. The Dragons won the JV game 37-15. The JV - comprised entirely of freshmen - finished the season 14-8.