Saturday afternoon wrap: NP girls win

The New Palestine girls basketball team used a fast start to build an early lead and race to a 52-35 victory at Rushville Saturday afternoon.

Bethany Murrell scored 17 points to lead the Dragons, and Lauren Tieman added 12 points. The victory for the Dragons was their second victory at Rushville's Memorial Gym in school history -- 19 games total -- and first since 2002. It was their first victory against Rushville on any floor since 2004.

The victory was the Dragons' third straight on the year. They conclude the season with two more road games, Wednesday at Lawrence Central and Saturday afternoon at Pendleton Heights.

The Dragons raced ahead to a 14-7 lead in the opening quarter, using a strong defensive effort that held Rushville to 32 percent shooting in the first half and 27 percent in the second. Rushville's only lead was on the opening possession of the game. NP led 26-15 at halftime and then pushed the lead to 17 points at the end of the third, at 44-27, when Murrell drilled a 3-pointer at the gun to give the Dragons their biggest lead of the game to that point.

Murrell added seven rebounds to her total. Tieman had five boards.

Guard Kyeligh Smock also added a strong all-around game with eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Guard Tori Stephenson had eight points on 3-of- shooting from the floor. She also had three assists. Abby Seifert, the HHC's leading rebounder, had eight rebounds.

Forward Casey Yager had a strong start for Rushville, scoring 10 first-half points to keep the Lions in the game. Yager finished with 11 rebounds for a double-double. NP's defense held Rushville's leading scorer -- freshman Sarah Cook -- to six points. Rushville was also without the services of second-leading scorer and strong all-around player Mackenzie Campbell, who was unavailale due to injury.


NP is now 9-9 and 4-2 in HHC play.


Eastern Hancock vs. Waldron: The Royals' game against Waldron was postponed due to weather. It will be played at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, with a varsity-only game.


Swimming
Greenfield-Central competed at Fishers in a dual-meet invitational.


The Cougar boys dropped two narrow meets to Carroll (Allen) and Fishers. Carroll beat the Cougars 101.5-82.5, Fishers defeated the Cougars 95-91 in a close meet.


G-C's girls also fell to both teams, with Carly Fernandes winning events in each meet.