New Palestine High School

The greatest season in New Palestine basketball history came to a close Saturday night one step shy of the State Finals, as the third-ranked Dragons fell to No. 6 Crispus Attucks 67-49 in the Southport semistate championship game. The Dragons finished with a 26-4 record, the winningest season in school history. It also marked their deepest tournament run, as they won their first-ever regional title and semistate game, beating Brownstown Central 47-43 in the morning game. The Dragons fell behind early, trailing 13-9 after a quarter despite four points from Julius Gizzi and a 3-pointer from Evan Darrah. Dezmon Briscoe scored six points for Attucks in the opening frame. The Dragons heated up from 3-point range in the second quarter, as Will Davison hit a triple to open the frame. Gizzi later hit two 3-pointers and scored eight points in the quarter, but Attucks hit two 3-pointers and was 6-of-6 from the line to build a 27-23 halftime lead. The Tigers pulled out to a 13-point lead early in the third, but the Dragons battled back, spurred by a basket from Ben Slagley and a 3-pointer and a drive from Gizzi to cut the lead to 41-35. Attucks responded with a run to build the lead to 46-37 after three. Gizzi scored eight points in the third. However, Attucks' Briscoe - an Iowa commit - took over in the fourth, scoring 10 points to help the Tigers pull away. Moses Haynes hit a 3-pointer and Keagan Harrison scored seven late points for the Dragons, but Attucks' depth was too much. Gizzi led the Dragons with 22 points. Harrison added nine, tying his career high in his final high school game. Haynes and Slagley scored five each. Darrah and Davison scored three and Austin McMahan two. Briscoe led four Tigers in double figures with 22 points. Attucks will take a 22-6 record into next week's State Finals against No. 2 South Bend St. Joseph. The Dragons' senior class of Gizzi, Haynes, Slagley, Harrison and McMahan finishes as the winningest class in school history, posting three straight 20-win seasons and three straight sectional titles. The Dragons went 90-20 over their four years, including 71-13 the last three seasons. Gizzi finishes his career as the Dragons' career scoring leader with 1,821 points. Haynes graduates as the all-time assists and steals leader. Slagley finishes second all-time in blocks, fifth in rebounds, 14th in scoring and in the top 10 in career assists.