New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team posted a dominant performance on Friday's Senior Night to beat Greenwood 61-31. The victory gives the Dragons a 21-2 regular-season record - tying the 1988-89 team for the school record for most wins in a season - and a home-court victory going into the sectional. The Dragons never trailed, as Kendall Hill hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession of his first varsity start, and took control in the second quarter to build a double-digit halftime lead before pulling away in the second half. Bryant Nunnally also hit an early triple for the Dragons, while Ian Stephens gave NP a five-point lead with a steal-and-dunk. A pair of free throws cut the lead to 11-8 after a quarter. In the second, Stephens scored six consecutive points and the run was extended to nine with a Ben Slagley free throw and a basket by Julius Gizzi, putting the Dragons up 20-8. Bryant Nunnally hit his second 3-pointer of the game to make it a 23-12 halftime lead. The four points allowed in the second quarter were the fewest surrendered in a frame by the Dragons this season. The Dragons broke the game open in the third. Blaine Nunnally hit a 3-pointer for his first points of the game - giving him 1,200 for his career - and followed with a hoop. Stephens then added a triple. Nunnally scored 10 points in the frame to help boost the Dragons to a 40-23 lead going into the fourth. The Dragons then outscored Greenwood 21-8 in the final frame to seal the victory. Nunnally scored five points. Eian Roudebush hit a basket and then two 3-pointers for eight points in the frame. Daniel Tippit also came off the bench and hit a long triple before coach Trent Whitaker took each of the six seniors out one-by-one to get a large ovation from the near-sellout crowd. Blaine Nunnally led the Dragons with 15 points, all coming in the second half, giving him 1,214 for his career. He is the third player in NPHS history - joining Maximus Gizzi and Tom Giles - to break the 1,200-point barrier. Stephens added 12 points. Roudebush scored 10, his second career double-figure game. Bryant Nunnally added eight points. Tippit, Hill, Brady Armstrong and Slagley scored three points each. Gizzi and Keagan Harrison each scored two, with Harrison tallying his first varsity points. Forward Carter Campbell led Greenwood with 13 points. He was the Woodmen's lone double-figure scorer. The Dragons also won the JV game 59-50. The Dragons now move to sectional play. They drew a bye in next week's Muncie Central sectional and will open at 6 p.m. Friday, March 3 against either Richmond or Pendleton Heights.