New Palestine High School

The New Palestine boys basketball team spent the second half fighting back from a double-digit deficit, but was unable to come all the way back Saturday in a 57-55 loss to Franklin Central. The Dragons fell behind 8-0 after three possessions, as the Flashes hit their first three shots, including 3-pointers by Raymond Hayes on their first two trips. From there, the Dragons were unable to work their way back in. A 3-pointer by Evan Darrah got NP on the board, but FC answered with another basket. Evan Study scored four quick points off the bench to cut the deficit to 14-7, but FC answered with back-to-back buckets. Late in the quarter, Darrah hit a tough baseline jumper, but Hayes hit a 35-foot triple at the buzzer to put the Flashes up 21-9 after a quarter. The Dragons had a hot start to the second quarter, led by Will Davison, who scored seven points in the first three minutes to cut FC's lead to 25-18. But the Dragons went without a field goal for the last five minutes of the half. FC scored six straight points to go up by 13, and led 31-19 at the half. The Dragons again had a hot start to the third, opening on a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to 34-31. Darrah hit a 3-pointer and two free throws. Eli Parrett drilled a 3-pointer. Davison hit a free throw and a long 3-pointer to draw the Dragons within a possession. NP got a stop and had a chance to cut the deficit further, but a turnover led to fast-break points for FC. The Flashes then followed with a triple to go up 39-31, and eventually led 45-36 after three. The Dragons again made a charge in the fourth. Darrah opened the quarter with a basket. Davison followed with a free throw to cut the deficit to 45-39. FC hit a 3-pointer on the other end to go back up nine, but Davison hit another shot. The Dragons again clawed back, as Davison hit a runner and then a three-point play, cutting the deficit to 48-44 with three minutes left left. NP got the ball back, but missed, leading to a fast-break opportunity for FC. A foul put the Flashes on the line, where they missed the second free throw, but rebounded and scored to go back up seven. Davison answered with a tough shot in traffic to cut the deficit to 51-46. NP forced another stop, but turned the ball back over to FC. Another steal led to a long 3-pointer by Darrah to make it a two-point game. The Flashes answered with a basket, a stop and two free throws to go up 55-49, but the Dragons wouldn't go away. Darrah was fouled, hit one free throw, stole the inbounds pass and scored again to cut the FC lead to 55-52 with 11 seconds left. The Dragons appeared to force a five-second violation on the inbounds, but a clock malfunction gave the Flashes another chance. They hit one free throw. Davison answered with a jumper with 5.1 seconds left. Another foul led to FC splitting two more free throws, giving the Dragons one last chance. FC fouled Darrah. He hit the first free throw, but NP was unable to rebound his intentional miss on the second with 0.2 seconds left. Davison scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, and had 16 in the second half. Darrah tallied nine points in the fourth quarter and finished with 21. Study and Sam Hirschy tallied four points each. Parrett had three. The Dragons are now 4-2 on the season. They are off until the Ray Furney Holiday Tournament at Lawrenceburg. NP opens with a 9 a.m. game Jan. 2 against Ritter. The Dragons won the JV game 52-50. Kade Stephens scored 16 points to lead the Dragons.