#3 MV girls extend HHC lead

Mt. Vernon posted a 49-31 victory over New Palestine in girls basketball Thursday night, scoring the game's first seven point to take an early lead, then pulling away with an 18-7 fourth quarter.

The victory gave the Marauders a stranglehold on the HHC race, giving them a one-game lead past the halfway point of conference play. MV is 4-0 in league play with three games left -- against Delta, Shelbyville and Greenfield-Central -- and has beaten several of the teams who would be considered top contenders.

Tonight's game was another step in that process. Jessica Brown started the game with five quick points -- giving her 1,000 for her career. Although she finished with seven points, she also had five assists to lead the Marauders in that category.

Where MV showed its muscle was on the glass. 6-footers Erica Moore and Makenzi Reasor helped the Marauders to 14 offensive rebounds and a 12-0 edge in second-chance points. Reasor had a strong all-around game with 18 points and seven boards. Moore had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Both had several key putbacks with the game on the line down the stretch.

Rachel Houck also had seven points for the Marauders, including two big second-half 3-pointers that helped MV pull away.

The Dragons had a balanced attack, led by Emily Curry's 10 points and two steals. Bethany Murrell had seven points, four rebounds and three steals. Lauren Tieman also had seven points and four rebounds. Abby Seifert had a team-high five boards and Taylor Espich had three steals and a blocked shot.
Reasor had 18 points and Moore 13 to lead MV. Jessica Brown, the Marauders' leading scorer on the season, scored seven points.

Mt. Vernon is 7-2 overall and 4-0 in HHC play, and next plays at home Thursday, 12/22 vs. Franklin.  The Dragons are now 3-6 and 2-2 in HHC play. They travel to Yorktown on Saturday for a 6 p.m. JV start.

You can go to HancockCountySports.com to listen to the archive, and also log in on Friday at 5:40 p.m. for girls and boys hoops, with Eastern Hancock hosting Knightstown.

Swimming
The New Palestine girls basketball team fell to Mt. Vernon 49-31 at home on Thursday night.

The Dragons fell behind 9-2 after a quarter, but climbed back into the game and stayed within contact of the third-ranked Marauders for much of the night, but MV's inside tandem of Erica Moore and Makenzi Reasor helped MV pull away in the fourth quarter.

The Dragons had a balanced attack, led by Emily Curry's 10 points and two steals. Bethany Murrell had seven points, four rebounds and three steals. Lauren Tieman also had seven points and four rebounds. Abby Seifert had a team-high five boards and Taylor Espich had three steals and a blocked shot.

Reasor had 18 points and Moore 13 to lead MV. Jessica Brown, the Marauders' leading scorer on the season, scored seven points.

The Dragons are now 3-6 and 2-2 in HHC play. They travel to Yorktown on Saturday for a 6 p.m. JV start before taking a 10-day break prior to hosting Greenfield-Central in the Dec. 27 county tournament.

Swimming
The New Palestine and Mt. Vernon swim teams split a dual swim meet Thursday night. The New Palestine girls Mt. Vernon 101-85 on Thursday night, while the Marauder boys won 95-90.

"This was an exciting meet. This rivalry always bring out the best performances from both schools," NP coach Steve Maxwell said. 


NPHS junior Emily Trimpe set a school record in the 100 freestyle, a time of 55.64 leading a 1-2 finish for the Dragons. Other winners for the girls were Jordan Rogers in the 200 IM (the sixth-best performance in NP history), Karen Emminger in the 50 freestyle and Trimpe again in the 100 breaststroke. The Dragons also won the 200 free relay with Trimpe, Jordan Rogers, Emminger and Olivia Ayer; and the 400 free relay with Rogers, Emminger, Katie Mustard and Trimpe.


Mt. Vernon winners were Eve Gonzales in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, Lauren Reifel leading a 1-2-3 finish in diving, Maddie Powell in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke and the 200 medley relay team of Jessica Hantz, Ellen Werner, Powell and Jessica Blackburn.


In the boys meet, Mt. Vernon winners were David Cochran in diving, Drew Logan in the 500 freestyle, David Hantz in the 100 backstroke, Kenny Gilpin in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 medley relay team of Hantz, Gilpin, Ian Hanssen and Reid Eberhard






The Dragons saw Jake Grieg swim the second-fastest time in school history in winning the 200 freestyle, teaming up with Grant Gish for a 1-2 finish. Greig and Gish also finished 1-2 in the 50 freestyle. Sam Baker won the 100 freestyle and 200 IM, Luke Steigerwalt took the 100 butterfly -- with Klay Simmons finishing second. Greig, Gish, Simmons and Baker won the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.
 "We had our best 'team performance' of the season," NP coach Steve Maxwell said. "We've had good individual swims in all our meets, but this was good across the board."