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Kwinton Smith helps rescue Dillon Boy’s basketball team!

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Dillon—With the right bounce of the ball and the addition of Kwinton Smith to the basketball program at Dillon look for the Wildcats to not only make the AA playoffs but advance further than some might expect.

“We’ve have had Kwinton for four games and he has scored 40 points and he has had almost as many rebounds,” said a happy head coach Harold Wilson. “He just decided to join the team four games ago and we are 4-0 with him in the line-up. He’s a great receiver in football and a great baseball player and I guess you can now put him down as a very good basketball player also.”

Dillon entered the month of February (10-10, 4-2) with several region games left. The outcome of their scheduled games with Mullins, Marion, Loris and Waccamaw will determine their seeding for the playoffs. Earlier this season the Wildcats lost to Marion and Mullin but they beat Loris and Waccamaw. A 2-2 record in these four games could move up to third in the region standings.

“All our games have been fairly close this season,” said Coach Wilson. “Anything can happen but everyone is happy to have Kwinton Smith on the team. He has made everyone play better.”

Another positive factor is Jalik Bethea getting eligible for the second semester. He has been averaging 11.6 points a game in the month of January. Guard Breon Page is averaging 11.1 points a game and forward Eri’Ron Hayes is the team’s number two rebounder at 6.4 per game. Senior guard Lavarious Hargrove is averaging four points a game.

“At 8-2 we would be tied for second place in the region and get a home playoff game and at 6-4 we would have to travel so winning these last games is very important,” said Coach Wilson.

Dillon Girl’s Competing For Strong Finish In Region Standings Under Coach Johnson

By Billy G. Baker 

Publisher

Dillon—It’s always scramble time late in any basketball regular season, and the Dillon girl’s (14-6, 4-2) went into the final ten days hoping for wins over Marion, Mullins, Loris and Waccamaw.

“We play at Mullins tonight (Jan. 31) and if we can beat them we will go to a tie-breaker if we can also go to Marion Friday night and beat them,” said head coach Shawn Johnson at a time of the season where the “if” word comes into play. “We play Loris the following Monday and close out the regular season with Waccamaw.”

The Wildcats two region losses have been to Marion and Mullins with both teams having only one region each coming into games on Jan., 31. “We lost to Mullins by six and in our 77-55 loss to Marion we missed 23 free throws,” said Coach Johnson. “If we win two of our last four region games we will clinch third place.”

The Wildcats continue to be led by senior playmaker Chelsea Frazier who is averaging 29 points and six assists a game. The four year starter has the numbers to qualify academically and she is thinking through offers from Erskine, Coastal Carolina, Johnson C. Smith, and Livingston College among others.

“Chelsea is a scoring machine, just an outstanding shooter,” said Coach Johnson. “She is a good set shooter and she has a very good mid-range jumper. I can’t imagine many players around the state out-shooting her.”

The team is also getting outstanding play from freshman forward Khadejhia Sellers now averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds, five steals, and two assists a game. Sophomore point guard Briana Lee is averaging eight points and five rebounds per game.

“Chelsea Frazier, Khadejhia Sellers, and Briana Lee have all taken on leadership roles of our team and their play is critical to our success,” said Coach Johnson. “When these three players are all on we have a chance to beat anyone we play.”

Junior center Jessica Swindler is six-foot averaging five points and 10 rebounds a game. She is also getting three blocked shots a game. “She is a good rebounder and she is growing into her role,” said Coach Johnson. “Our other starter is senior guard Kedisha Davis and she is averaging four points a game.”

Frazier and Davis are the only two returning players from the varsity this season. “Everyone else on our year were playing either middle school or jayvee last year,” said Coach Johnson. “We are a very young team.”

One of the first players off the bench is 8th grader Na’ Kedra Page who is averaging four points and four rebounds a game. She is a back-up center. Shana Covington and Tara Grimsley play early off the bench and they are two guards who compliment the team well according to Coach Johnson.  Senior center Zipporah Lighty is also contributing six points and 4.3 rebounds a game.

Other reserve players include guard Cali McRae, Janesha Haynes, Justice Dixon, Pam Robinson, Miracle Harley, and La’Veeta Johnson.

“Our goal is to make a late run and get the highest seeding we can for the upcoming playoffs,” said Coach Johnson. “Once we get into the playoffs the slate is wiped clean and anything can happen.”

 

 

son.  "We hope to get a good seeding in the playoffs and go as far as we can towards a state championship."
Coach Wilson said his team's best chance to win is built around a fast paced game and "we love to run the floor and play strong on defense and we are all about controlling the boards."
Coach Wilson said, "It starts on the defensive side of the ball for us," said Coach Wilson. "When we can rebound and get it up the floor quickly we are playing Wildcat basketball."
The team beat Fairmont, N.C. and South Robeson, N. C.
And they lost to Pernell Sweat N.C. and they lost to Latta by two points.
The starting group is built around Jarvis Williams, a senior point guard who has started the past two years. "He's a good assists player and last year he was our second leading scorer at 15 points a game," said Coach Wilson. "He led the team in steals last year at three per game."  
Quincey Bethea is a junior shooting guard averaging around 15 points a game with a high of 22 against Latta. "He's a good athlete and once he gets in basketball shape he will be a very good shooter and a good defender," said Coach Wilson. "Bethea is a three year starter."
   Antwaun Blue made his first practice of the season on December, 20 due to his play in the Shrine Bowl. "He's good defender who runs the court well in our fast breaking style," said Coach Wilson. "This is Blue's fourth year on varsity."
 Senior James Roberts has been playing in Blue's place while he was at the Shrine Bowl. Jakell Whittington is a 6-2 junior forward who needs to improve his rebounding and inside scoring to help the team. The other forward is 6-3 senior Brandon McEachern who leads the team in rebounding at seven boards a game.

The first player off the bench is senior guard Reggie Nelson, who is expected to score like he did in getting 17 points in the season opener against Fairmont on December, 8. Other seniors contributing are senior forward Tommy Pittman, junior forward Rashad Miles, and junior guard Ridge Gurley. Bryan Windham is the tallest Wildcat at 6-7 and he is a developing junior forward.
Other members of the team include freshman guard Kenny Vanderhall, junior guard Bryan McLeod, sophomore guard Lavaris Hargrove, senior guard Tyquan Turner, and junior forward Marqul Campbell.  

Dillon Girl's Developing Well Under Veteran Coach Johnny Dew
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Dillon (12/21/09) Johnny Dew is starting his 10th year at Dillon and before that he spent 22 seasons in a similar job at Latta.  
"We want to be improving each and every week and be playing better as we start region play in January," said Coach Dew.  "We want to improve as the year goes along. At 2-2 we must improve from the perspective of how well our starting five plays together. We are not playing well as a team and we are not making our lay-ups and our fundamentals need some work.
"I am hoping between now an region play we improve on running our offense. This is a new group and these five have not played together that much.
On Monday December, 28th Dillon will once again compete in the Pee Dee Invitational hosted by South Florence. The Wildcats will play Timmonsville.
Sophomore point guard Chelesa Frazier started since 8th grade all-region and all-state as a freshman averaged 19 points a game. Frazier has already scored 25 and 23 points in two games this season. "She can be as good as she wants to be but she has to work at it. She just can't go thorough the motions. She can be to us what Ruby Lee Wright was to Latta. She has got to want the ball all the time."
Senior forward Depris Ford is in her third year and she is averaging 11 points a game followed by senior forward/guard Valetta Richardson who is averaging 10 points a game. Ashley Purnell is a senior forward starting for the first time. Ashley Smith a 6-0 junior center and this is her second year on the varsity and she needs to become more aggressive and physical.
The first players off the bench are usually Leigh Ann Moody who is in her first year every playing basketball and she has shown great improvement and sophomore guard Mircale Harley. Freshman Darby Hamer has seen a lot of playing time as a forward.
The other players include sophomore guard Alica Richardson who has been out sick and sophomore Levastia Crawford who has been slowed by a knee injury.          
"Last year we finished second in the region and lost in the first round to Kingstree by one point after going 4 of 24 from the foul line," said Coach Dew. "You can't win if you do that and we are working hard to be better on offense."