Wildcats, Lions to face off in Dillon on Friday for second in Region 7-AAA

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon — It is truly a minor miracle that the Dillon softball team is (8-2, 3-2) after 10 games of the 2024 season, under fourth year head coach Stevie Grice , who also served as an assistant coach with the Lady Wildcats for five seasons, prior to becoming the head coach in 2021. “We graduated our all-state catcher Logan Grice , who is now playing at PC,” said Coach Grice. “We had a key player transfer to Dillon Christian, and our number two pitcher decided not to play her senior year. We are very young and inexperienced at many positions. “We have had to work our tails off this season and we are getting better with every game,” said Coach Grice. “Due to some important prior planned field trips, we were not able to participate in the Pee Dee Pitch-Off this season. The five games we usually play in the Pitch-Off would have provided our younger players a lot of experience. “We did have two scrimmages with Class A champion Hannah-Pamplico, and a scrimmage with Chesterfield, who won the AA state title,” said Coach Grice. “This team has had to grow up in a hurry this season.” Dillon has wins over the defending AA state champion Chesterfield (7-0), Lake View (7-0), Georgetown (13-8), Waccamaw (18-0), West Florence (1-0), North Myrtle Beach (10-2), and Hartsville (4-1). They lost to region foes Aynor (6-2) and Loris (3-1) on March, 26, before breaking for Spring break. The good news for Dillon is the return of senior pitcher Paige Sherman , who has signed with Lander College , and junior shortstop Cierra Grice , who is a pledge to PC where her sister plays. So far, in the 2024 season Sherman is 7-2 with an impressive 1.03 ERA. Sherman has 72 strike-outs in 61 innings of work. Sherman also bats clean-up and is currently batting .375 with 8 RBI’s, including three doubles and one triple. “Paige is back for her senior season better then ever,” said Coach Grice. “She gives us a chance to win every time she is in the circle. She is a steady bat at the plate also.” Grice could also play catcher, but she is needed more at shortstop after playing third base a lot earlier in her prep career. Grice bats lead-off and she is currently hitting .419 with 10 RBI’s including 8 doubles and two triples. She is 1-0 as the team’s back-up pitcher with 14 K’s in that win. “Cierra is a solid glove at short and she is a great contact hitter with good speed,” said Coach Grice. “She has played a lot of travel softball also and her experience is a big-plus to share with our younger players on the team this season.” The team’s top hitter thus far is sophomore third baseman Alyssa Lee , a returning starter from last season. Lee is hitting .423 with 8 RBI’s to date, including three doubles, a triple and one home run. “Alyssa Lee bats in the five hole and she is hitting very well and playing solid defense at third base,” said Coach Grice. Junior McKayla Huggins has been moved from first to catching duties this season. Huggins is hitting .325 with a team leading 12 RBI’s“ that includes four doubles and two home runs. McKayla has some experience catching in summer ball so she was the right person to put behind the plate after Logan’s graduation,” said Coach Grice. “She has been a steady force both on offense and defense.” A fifth returning player with experience is sophomore center fielder McKenna Meekins who went into Spring break batting .308 with seven RBI’s, including three doubles and one triple. “McKenna bats second and she has excellent speed on defense and she has already thrown out several runners from center field with her strong arm,” said Coach Grice. The remaining starters for the Wildcats are first year starters, mostly up from the junior varsity. Second base is held down by 8 th grader Cecelia Grider, a transfer from Dillon Christian. “She is getting better every day,” said Coach Grice. Freshman Haiden Eller is a first-year starter at first base and she is improving with every game. The right-field/left field positions have been platooned this season with numerous players. Sophomore Jiana McGill and freshman Ansley Villagomez have shared time in right. Returning junior Miriah Campbell and 7 th grader Kanyla Tankersly are sharing time in left-field. The remaining players on the team include four players who will be playing up and down this season. They include 8 th grade catcher/first baseman Addison Villagomez , sophomore outfielder Kayla Christmas , 7 th grade pinch runner Marsiah Bethea along with 8 th grader Wanysia Hughes a utility player. After Spring break Dillon will resume play with a non-region game against Marion on April, 10. The next day the Wildcats will play a region game at Georgetown and they host Waccamaw at April, 16. The team will close out the season with games against Aynor, Latta, Manning, and the Wildcats close out the regular season against Loris at home on April, 26. “Our goals and expectations this season are just to improve as a team with every practice and every game,” said Coach Grice. “We play every game to win, don’t get me wrong. We are hoping for deep playoffs run and a good seeding for the play-offs.” Coach Grice is 67-28 in his previous seasons as head coach Dillon Baseball Team Vastly Improved Under Coach Coward The Dillon baseball team (6-4, 3-2) begins their second season under the tutelage of former HSSR all-state player Keith Coward who graduated from Dillon in 2005, with fond memories of being a key member of the Wildcat team that played for a state title in 2004. “This team has improved a lot over last season and it would be exciting to see all the hard work our players have put into the program be rewarded with a play-off berth at the end of the regular season,” said Coach Coward. “We were 4-13 last year but with seven starters back we felt like we would be much-improved this season.” The lead-off batter is sophomore ace pitcher Hank Grider . Grider is 3-2 on the mound with 34 strike-outs in 26 innings of work. He has a 1.50 ERA and he has only walked four batters all season. “In our 4-2 big win over Loris, Grider pitched a complete game, allowing only six hits with 8 strike-outs,” said Coach Coward. “We are really proud of his play on the mound this season.” Junior center fielder Dan Graves patrols center field and he bats second in the order. Graves is leading the team on the hit index with a .455 average including three RBI’s and he has stolen 9 bases. Jamison Pittman is a junior catcher who bats third in the line-up. The clean-up batter is junior right fielder Ryan Carter who leads the team with 12 RBI’s and he also has six stolen bases. Sophomore first baseman Jaden Williamson bats in the five slot and he has helped the team with one home run and two doubles this season. “Jaden has turned in a great defensive job at first base,” said Coach Coward. “He has bailed us out of a lot of tough spots this year and saved us some runs.” Braden Miles is a senior utility player who can play multiple positions and he bats sixth in the line-up. Senior Nevin Branch , batting number seven in the line-up, is a designated hitter who also plays some third base. Eighth grader Bryson Davis starts at third base plays third base and he is the team’s number two pitcher. Davis is 3-1 on the mound with 15 innings of work and he has a 3.50 ERA. Rounding out the batting order is 8 th grade starting second baseman JJ Campbell. Key reserve players include senior Mason Jackson who plays in left field along with junior infielder Canaurey Reid . Bryan Smith is a senior reserve outfielder along with sophomore left fielder Zay Robertson , a strong football prospect at defensive back. The team will be active over Spring break with games against Latta on April 1-2. On April, 9 Dillon will play Georgetown followed by games with Waccamaw, Carvers Bay, Loris and Wilson. “Our goal right now is to compete, and be as competitive as we can be, and find a way to sneak into the play-offs at the end of the regular season,” said Coach Coward. “That accomplishment would be a just reward for the hard work this team has put in.” Coach Coward is assisted by Austin Moody , Steven Reaves , and Coley Bohaehic .

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon - The Dillon boys’ basketball team, head coached by Bryan Grice , concluded the 2023-24 season with a 18-7, 8-2 record and the Wildcats finished second in the region. After a first round win over Beaufort (73-40), in the first round of the AAA playoffs, the Wildcats were eliminated from the playoffs by Crestwood (73-40) on February, 16. Dillon had three players earn all-region honors led by sophomore guard Zay Robertson who averaged 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals a game. Robertson was the team captain. The other two all-region players were seniors Ta’Norre Monroe and Shawn Samuel who averaged 7.3 and 5 points a game respectively. Samuel also led the team in rebounding at 8.3 boards a game. Robertson will be named to the HSSR-All-State AAA boys’ team when it is released March, 15. The team consisted of six seniors, 9 juniors, and one sophomore. “We should have a strong team once again next season with Zay back along with Jamarion Fling , Rahmond Hamilton , and Jazier Walker ,” said Coach Grice who completed his 5th season as the head coach at Dillon. “Our challenge is that we do not a true big time big-man. At this level of basketball that would be a big-plus. “What will probably do is play Hamilton and Walker at the four spots and have them in the game at the same time after alternating them a lot this season,” said Coach Grice. “Hamilton is 6-2 and Walker is 6-4 and they will be our inside guys.” Dillon’s two region losses came to region champion Loris . Dillon lost their game at Loris by three during the season (78-75) and by 13 when they played Loris at home on January, 26 (57-44). Additional players returning to the team next season include: Zephaniah Campbell , Jafari Jones , Jacob Hunt , Daquavious Williams , Michael Williams and Kyheim Lester. Additional seniors graduating include: Ian Meyers , L’nauhre Bethea , Nionkuru Patrick , and Jayden Benjamin .

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon - Okay Dillon girls’ basketball fans and players, the rest of us know what you are already thinking about as you forward to the 2024-25 basketball season in Class AAA in South Carolina for next year. Your team did an excellent job finishing (19-6, 9-1) while winning a region title with no seniors, so the 13 hard-working players on your 2023-24 team will all return next season, with one more year of experience. The young team that beat you in the playoffs, Crestwood , have been realigned to Class AAAA, and this year’s AAA champion Camden is graduating McDonald’s high school All-American Joyce Edwards and her 31 points per game to South Carolina . Head Dillon coach James McMillian tells the HSSR, “I view having everyone back as both a good and bad situation,” he said. “First of all, everyone in our community is going to put a lot of pressure on the team, telling us that we should compete and win a state title no problem. It is almost expected that we be in the conversation for the girl’s AAA title next season and I understand that. “As a head coach I certainly have to stay ahead of those conversations, and remind my team that schools like Oceanside Collegiate are moving up to AAA, and that over at Keenan will be a contender as the younger Fulwiley sister moves up to her freshman or sophomore as a special player also.” Coach McMillian is planning to take his team to a team camp at USC in June. He is also taking his team to the “NCAA Live Event Showcase” scheduled in Rock Hill this June 13-15. Teams will compete over this three- day period and college coaches are allowed to come and watch the games. These two factors alone should serve as motivating factors for his team between now and June. Dillon has been led on the hardwood the past two seasons by 8th grader Treasure Davis , a 5-7 combo guard, who has 654 points in two seasons. She could score her 1,000th career point before she completes her freshman season. “Treasure is truly a special talent,” said Coach McMillian. “Her father is 6-2 so I can see her getting to 5-9 or 5-10 by her senior year. She is going to get stronger to because all of our players are involved in weight lifting. “Treasure is more than a scorer and she is getting better and better at managing the game while she is on the court and making her teammates better also,” said Coach McMillian. “One area she needs to get better in is being a vocal leader on the court and I thin that will come as she grows older.” Davis, who will be named to the 2023-24 HSSR all-state team when the team is released around March, 15 averaged 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4,8 steals and 2,4 assists a game this season. Junior guard Mariah Campbell , one of the hardest workers on the team, has also been named to the 2023-24 HSSR all-state team after averaging 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 steals a game. Freshman guard Khwnylah McKinnon who averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.3 steals this season has earned a spot on the HSSR all-rookie team. Junior guard Ayonna Lester was also named all-region after averaging 4,6 points and six rebounds a game. The team was comprised of three juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen and one 8th grader. Other players returning next season include soph F Jiana McGil , junior F Zadaiya Moody , soph G Zynijah Pernell , freshman G A’Zyriah Ford , freshman G Jaziyah Leggette , junior F Kiasia McLeod , soph F Leah Bethea , freshman F Katlin Leslie and soph F Alyssa Lee .

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon — With four games left in the 2023-24 regular season, the Dillon Lady Wildcats basketball team (13-5, 4-1) was locked in a battle to win the region title as they and foes Loris and Waccamaw all had 4-1 region records. As the HSSR was going to press, Dillon, ranked 7 th by the HSSR, had a key region home game against Loris on January 26. After that key game they have back-to-back away games against Aynor and Manning before closing out the regular season with a home game against Waccamaw . Depending on how things play-out, the Waccamaw game could be one of the biggest games of the season. Dilon defeated Loris 47-41 earlier in the season. Waccamaw beat Dillon 50-48 on January, 19 th and then Loris recently beat Waccamaw so the region has been highly competitive. “We missed four free throws in the final minute on the road at Waccamaw, so when that happens, and you lose by two points, you feel like you could have just as easily won the game,” said veteran head coach James McMillian starting his 9 th season as the head coach at Dillon. “Hopefully, when they come to our place, for the final region game of the season, we can do better at the free throw line.” Dillon is a very young team with no seniors on the roster. They are led in scoring by talented 8 th grade shooting guard Treasure Davis who started as a freshman when Dillon finished 9-9 losing out in the first round of the playoffs to eventual state champion Camden. Davis, one of the best 8 th graders in the state, is currently averaging 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 2.2 assists a game. “Treasure has stepped up her game this season,” said Coach McMillian. “She has always been able to attack the basket and score inside. This season she has improved on her three=point shot. We start four guards, and the addition of freshman Khwnylahi McKinnon at the point has allowed Treasure to move around a lot on the court and find more open shots. “We have 9 new players on our varsity and many of them have come straight from middle school to the varsity,” said Coach McMillian. “We have a couple more up from the junior varsity.” McKinnon is averaging 12.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.1 assists a game. “We call McKinnon our facilitator because she distributes the ball very well,” said Coach McMillian. “She helps take a lot of defensive pressure off Treasure because she is a good shooter also.” Junior guard Mariah Campbell is a returner to the varsity and she is averaging 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.5 assists a game coming into the Loris game. “Mariah is a much-improved player over last season,” said Coach McMillian. “Her ball handling has improved the most.” The remaining starters are junior guard Ayonna Lester at 4.6 points and 6.5 rebounds a game along with junior forward Zadaiya Moody averaging g 2.3 rebounds a game. Coach McMillian said Dillon’s post players rotate by committee. “We do not have a true post player,” he said. “Moody, at 5-8, is our inside player.” Other members of the team include junior forward Kiasia Ford , sophomores Jiana McGill , Zynijah Pernell , Alyssa Lee , and Leah Bethea . Jaziyah Leggette and Katlin Leslie are two freshmen on the team who play guard and forward respectively.  “We are still finding our way with such a young team,” said Coach McMillian. “I beefed up our non-region schedule this season to get us ready for region competition and a strong run in the playoffs. We played teams like Conway , St. Paul’s, NC , Marion , Lee Central , Lake View , Scott’s Branch and Stall .” The Lady Wildcats started off the season 4-0 defeating Marion twice (48-41 44-34), and Conway twice (48-37 and 46-28). They beat county rival Lake View in over-time (68-60). And they had key wins over Stall (44-43) and Scott’s Branch (44-27). “If we learn to do a better job boxing out on the boards and limit teams to just one shot at the basket, I feel like we can have a seep run in the playoffs,” said Coach McMillian. “We are improving with every game and we just need to stay focused.”

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon — The Dillon Wildcats (13-5, 4-1) head boys basketball coach, Bryan Grice says his 2023-24 team is the best over-all team he has coached over his 35-year coaching career, and the Wildcats will have ever opportunity to win a region championship in the final week of the regular season. “Because of our deep bench this is as strong a team as I’ve ever coached,” said Coach Grice. “We are capable of winning it all this year. We just need to get on the court and perform. “We have a huge home game with Loris at home (January, 26) and if we can win that game, by more than three points, we will have first place in the region with three region games left to play,” said Coach Grice. “Anything can happen but beating Loris is key to our goal of winning the region. Our only loss in the region, so far, was a 78-75 loss at Loris in early January.” Since that nail-biting loss to the Lions, the Wildcats have responded with five wins in a row. They have defeated Red Springs NC (60-50), Aynor (64-30), Manning (68-60), Waccamaw (46-43) and Georgetown (75-43. In the Georgetown win senior shooting guard Ta’norre Monroe led Dillon’s scoring with 18 points aided by him making four three-pointers. Talented 6-2 sophomore forward Zamaurious Robertson guard contributed 14 points also. “Robertson is the captain of the team and he can do it all,” said Coach Grice. “He ‘s a slasher with good moves to the basket and he can step outside and hit a three-pointer also. He shoots really well. When he’s on we’re on.” Robertson leads the team in scoring at 14.7 points a game and 3,2 rebounds. To date he has made 20 three-pointers on the season. Monroe, a combo-guard, is second in scoring at 8 points and 2.1 rebounds a game. “We call Monroe our zone buster,” said Coach Grice. “He can stroke it from the outside.” The other three starters include Samuel, a senior center, who leads the team in rebounding with 8.2 a game while averaging 5.1 points. Jamarion Fling is a junior point guard averaging 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds a game and junior big-man Jazier Walker brings rebounding and good inside defense to the court. “I like to sit all five starters down early in the game and let them observe what the other team has been doing in the game,” said Coach Grice. “This allows me to put five new starters in the game and to see what they can contribute also. We have 16 players on the team and I like to get them all involved.” For the first half of the season, junior small forward Rahmond Hamilton (6-2) was out with an injury. “He’s a sixth man off the bench and he is very versatile,” said Coach Grice. “I look for him to be starting before the end of the season. He can play the 2-3 or 4 positions for us.” Another player usually first off, the bench is back-up center Ian Myers (6-5). “He is a strong rebounder and a good shot blocker,” said Coach Grice. Junior point guard Zephaniah Campbell is a point guard that handles pressure defenses well. Junior inside player Kyhiem Lester (6-4) is a lefty who pounds the boards well.  Other members of the team include senior back-up shooting guard Niyonkuru Patrick, along with junior 2-3 performer Michael Williams . Senior big-man Jayden Benjamin (6-4) (North-South in football) is sent in “to clean-out the inside lane.” Other key reserves are junior point guard Jafari Jones , junior shooting guard Jacob Hunt , junior center Daquavious Williams and senior small forward L’nauhre Bethea . Robertson had a season high 35 points against Loris earlier in the season. He hopes to have several more games like that one before the season concludes, hopefully with a deep run in the upcoming AAA playoffs.

Wildcats come from 16 points down in third quarter to maintain hold on second place

Freshmen Davis and McKinnon, junior Campbell have been team leaders

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dillon —Having just completed his third season as the head football coach at Dillon High (10-2), with the Wildcats compiling an impressive 34-4 record, including three region titles over this span, head coach Kelvin Roller is totally focused on making year four even more successful. “Our two losses this season came against a very talented Hartsville team, early in the season, and our season ended in the second round of the payoffs against a well-coached and talented Camden team that lost by one point to Daniel in the state title game,” said Coach Roller. “We competed well against both teams. “Unfortunately, we had several key players out with injuries for the Camden game,” said Coach Roller. “I am very proud of the effort our players gave all season. Our goal at Dillon will always be to out-work people and compete for state championships every year.” Coach Roller said he wants all returning players to the 2024 Dillon football team, plus several promising players who will be up from the jayvee team, to enjoy the Christmas holiday break but be expects everyone to come back from the break refreshed and ready to go to work.  “We can talk about a goal to win a championship, but your work ethic, and all that you focus on in the off-season to get prepared to win a state title is the most important thing,” said Coach Roller. “It is all about getting stronger in the weight room and working on speed and conditioning in early Spring. It is what you do when the lights of the stadium are not on. We need to embrace a strong work ethic and focus on becoming the team we can be for next season.” In the first round of the AAA playoffs on November, 2 the Wildcats defeated visiting North Charleston 42-8. In the Camden loss the bright spot-on offense was the running of junior RB Jamarion Fling who gained 134 yards on 27 caries scoring all three of Dillon’s touchdowns in the 35-21 loss. Against Camden the Nasty Cats of defense was led by senior LB Sirmod McCallum with 14 tackles and soph OLB Daniel Capehart chipped in with 8 tackles. DL Wayvon Bright had six tackles and Fling, who flipped some to defense, had five tackles. In the post-season Dillon was represented at the North-South all-star game in Myrtle Beach by RT Jayden Benjamin (6-4, 320) who was chosen as a captain for the game. “The coaches for the South team told me what a good player Benjamin was for them in the game, and I am very proud he was chosen as one of the captains for the game,” said Coach Roller. While at the North-South game, Coach Roller was also very pleased when Shrine Bowl left tackle Josiah Thompson was announced as the Coaches Association’s Mr. Football in South Carolina for the 2023 season. “Thompson is a tremendous player on the field but he is an even better person off the field,” said Coach Roller. “He has been a four-year starter at Dillon and he has worked hard at becoming what many college coaches tell me is the best left tackle in the country this season. “He is a very deserving young man of this honor and I am very proud of him,” said Coach Roller. “Thompson will also be playing in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas on January, 6 and the game will be televised nationally on NBC. I am looking forward to going out to the game to support him representing the Dillon football program on the national stage.” The HSSR has named several Dillon players to our 2023 All-State football team with direct in-putt from Coach Roller. Thompson has been named the “HSSR-SCHSL Career Mr. Football” in South Carolina for his four years of outstanding play for the Wildcats that landed him his first offer as a freshman from South Carolina , where he will play at the next level. Fling has earned a spot on the HSSR-SCHSL AAA all-state offensive team along with WR Zay Robertson . Benjamin has earned a spot on the HSSR-SCHSL statewide all-state team from the OL. Quarterback Josiah Oxendine , who was a member of the HSSR-SCHSL all-rookie team last year, has earned a spot on the HSSR-SCHSL AAA all-state team this season. Oxendine passed for 1,236 yards this season and 8 TD’s. he also averaged 7.89 yards a carry gaining 363 yards on 46 carries and three TD’s. On defense, McCallum is on the HSSR-SCHSL statewide defensive team after leading Dillon with 131 total tackles including four TFL and one sack. Sophomore Daniel Capehart has earned a spot on the HSSR-SCHSL all-rookie team after compiling 64 tackles including three TFL. Sophomore LB Keyrion Brown has been named to the HSSR-SCHSL AAA defensive all-state team after compiling 104 tackles and three pass interceptions. Dillon Athletic Director Zach Hayes Accepts Job Opportunity With Elliott Rentals At Myrtle Beach Zach Hayes, who has been the Dillon athletic director for the past three years, did an outstanding job working for Elliott Real State Sales in Mrytle Beach, for three summers, while he was attending Coastal Carolina where he graduated in 2013. Hayes was recently offered the head job over-seeing the summer rentals division of Elliott Realty in both the North and Myrtle Beach areas. Elliott Realty is the number one summer rental company in Myrtle Beach with over 1,300 rentals annually. “ Rick Elliott , who owns Elliott Realty, told me a few years ago that he was going to do everything he could to hire Zach to come run a key component of his well-respected business at the Beach,” said Dillon area Supt. Ray Rogers . “I knew it was a matter of time and that time is now. “We are going to miss him and he has been a vital part of the Dillon athletic program since he would walk around the school with his father ( Jackie Hayes ) starting when he was three-years old,” said Mr. Rogers. “Zach does not live that far from the school and he comes to the school on a minute’s notice to help fix anything from fire alarm issues to making sure the lawn mower is ready for grass cutting in the summer. He gets involved in so many things, in-and-out of athletics.” Supt Rogers said that Hayes will stay on as the Dillon/lake View AD until the end of the school year, on a part-time basis while also getting use to his new role at Elliott Realty. “It was a big decision and I will always love Dillon High School for all the memories and opportunities that the school has brought to me,” said Hayes. “I really enjoyed working with Rick Elliott during my summers at Coastal and he has been talking to me about this great opportunity for me and my family for quite some time. “Being an athletic director teaches you how to deal and communicate with people and this is what I will be doing in the real estate business,” said Hayes. Hayes and his wife have two adorable children; Calloway , who is six and Kegan who is two.