Basketball weekend

Lots of basketball this weekend starts tonight, with a BIG girls game between New Palestine and 3A No. 3 Mt. Vernon.

The Dragons are 3-5 against a top-25 schedule, but could easily be 7-1 as four of their losses have been in down-to-the-wire games. The Marauders are 6-2, with both defeats to 4A programs having strong years. The game features four players who will be playing at the next level next year -- MV's Makenzi Reasor (Indiana State) and Jessica Brown (Indiana Wesleyan) along with NP's Bethany Murrell (Florida Gulf Coast) and Tori Stephenson (Danville Area CC).

The game also features two of the area's top rebounders in NP's Lauren Tieman and Abby Seifert -- the latter of which is averaging more than 10 rebounds per game -- and MV's Reasor and Anna Olson. Both teams are senior-laden, and this could be the final meeting for these teams as currently constituted.

The other big key is the HHC race. MV can take a full-game lead on the conference going into the Christmas break with games remaining against Delta, Greenfield-Central and Shelbyville. Should the Dragons win, it would forge a 4-way tie at the top of the conference, with tonight's two participants, G-C and Pendleton Heights -- who are both 3-1 in league play.

You can listen to the game live tonight with Chris Lambert and Greg Elkins on HancockCountySports.com. Direct listen live link here.

Knightstown at Eastern Hancock: More hoops on Friday, with the Royals and Panthers facing off in a doubleheader. First, let's look at the boys. EH is 3-2, and is two baskets away from being a perfect 5-0 on the year. Knightstown is 1-4, as both teams are retooling a bit after graduating strong senior classes last season. Victor Vincz had 27 points in EH's 68-53 victory over Sheridan on Saturday. He and Jared Pyle lead EH in scoring. Knightstown has a young team led by Clay Ratliff, who is nearly averaging a double-double.

On the girls side, EH is 6-1, enjoying its best start in years, led by sophomore guard Kiersten Schrope, who has scored, rebounded and handled the ball for the Royals. Sophomore Kristen Eischen does a lot of the work up front. But Knightstown poses a tough test. The Panthers are experienced, with four players averaging between 9-11 points per game, and they are coming off a victory over New Castle last week. Knightstown is 5-3.

Listen to both games starting at 5:40 p.m. Friday at HancockCountySports.com

Other games
Friday boys
Morristown at New Palestine, 7:30: Another installment in Hancock County's longest-running basketball series -- the two teams have played each other annually since at least the 1940s, and likely longer. The Dragons have dominated the series recently, and have a deep, senior-laden team that's 3-1 on the year. Morristown does feature one of the state's top scorers in Dylan Langkabel, who is headed to Northwood University in Michigan to play next year. Expect a good matchup.

Shelbyville at Mt. Vernon, 7:30: The Marauders are 2-2, but are ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the Sagarin ratings. MV has played four tough opponents so far, so the winless Golden Bears (0-4) could be a good opportunity for the Marauders to get a lift going into the county tournament. Our friends at WSVX (www.wsvx.com) will broadcast the game.

Yorktown at Greenfield-Central, 7:30: Yorktown is 1-0 in HHC play and 2-2 overall since Greg Miller returned to the head coaching reins. The Tigers have been building for some time. The Cougars are 0-6 on the year and have struggled to score points, but have done so against a brutally-difficult schedule and with a very young, sophomore-laden team. Our friends at WRGF-89.7 will broadcast.

Saturday boys

Eastern Hancock at Cambridge City Lincoln, 7:30: This game could be a good matchup, as the Golden Eagles are experienced and playing at home. CCL is 2-2 on the year under coach Rodney Klein.



New Palestine at Franklin Central, 7:30: The Dragons and Flashes resume their series after a long hiatus. And it happens without legendary FC coach Mark James on the sidelines, as he took his boots to Ben Davis. The Flashes are 3-2 under new coach John Rockey, and are coming off big wins over Columbus North and Fishers. This could be a preview of the Center Grove sectional. A student broadcast is available at WRFT-91.5.

Saturday girls
Eastern Hancock at Northeastern, 1:30: The Royals will have a quick turnaround, playing Saturday afternoon after a Friday-night game, which will be good prep for the county tournament. Northeastern comes in with a 2-7 record.

New Palestine at Yorktown, 7:30: The Dragons go on the road for the first time since before Thanksgiving with their final conference matchup before the county tournament. Yorktown graduated the bulk of a core that had been together for four years and is starting over with new coach Lendon Schwartz. The Tigers are 4-4, but are 0-2 in HHC play so far.