Regional lookahead

The New Palestine Dragons are getting ready for regional play, and so are we!

Join Andrew Smith & Chris Lambert at 9:35 a.m. for regional action from Shelbyville. We will bring you all of the Dragons' games on HancockCountySports.com.

Here is the regional schedule from Shelbyville's Garrett Gymnasium
10 a.m.: New Palestine (11-11) vs. Batesville (16-6)
11:30 a.m.: Danville (19-5) vs. #8 Roncalli (17-5)
8 p.m.: Championship

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If you have trouble: the direct broadcast link is here

In the opening game, the Dragons (11-11) are what we've described all year -- an athletic, young team with no seniors that put everything together in the sectional. Half of NP's games have been decided by five points or less -- five in OT -- so the Dragons are battle-tested. They beat #4 Hamilton Heights 77-74 and avenged one of those OT losses to Shelbyville 66-55 in the sectional. On Friday, it was Josh Penley's 30-point night that led the Dragons, with three others scoring in double-figures. Penley added 16 points and 11 boards on Saturday to help lead a victory, with junior Taylor Rainey adding 19 points, Michael Morris 17 and Reid Clark scoring nine and pulling down 11 rebounds. To say things were balanced would be an understatement, as the Dragons had at least three players in double-figures each night. The Dragons have good balance, decent size, good quickness and some 3-point shooting that carried them to a sectional title.

Batesville (16-6) avenged two regular-season defeats to Greensburg with a strong defensive effort -- allowing 32 points in 32 minutes, including just three in the final quarter. Coach Aaron Garrett's squad led throughout. The two teams are similar size-wise, and some of the names from both the Dragons and Bulldogs will be familiar to each others' fans because quite a number of them play football -- in which NP and Batesville have played annually for the last eight years. Junior guard Cameron Fledderman and 6-4 senior forward Cody Cole led the Bulldogs with 12 points each in their 50-32 victory over Greensburg. Luke Williams, a 6-5, 210-pound center, added eight points and five rebounds.

The other game features #8 Roncalli and defending regional champ Danville. Roncalli is HUGE -- five players stand 6-foot-6 or taller, led by three players who average in double-figures -- juniors David Heckman and Ryan Weber and senior Collin Lynch. The Rebels beat #9 Brebeuf in the sectional title game at Beech Grove. Danville eliminated #3 Lebanon in the sectional opener, then went on to win at Lebanon. The Warriors have graduated 6-10 center Travis Carroll to Purdue, but the cupboard isn't bare for Brian Barber's club. Senior Tyler Hall averages 21.9 points and 7 rebounds per game to lead the way for a veteran squad with lots of tourney experience. The Warriors beat Mt. Vernon in the regional title game last year before falling to eventual champ Washington in the semistate.