Dillon Christian counteing on youngsters as season progresses

Dillon – The Dillon Christian School boys basketball team is led by a pair of outstanding senior

guards in Thompson Stone and Jackson Outlar. However, Warriors head coach Bo Stone thinks the

improvement of the rest of the roster will tell the tale of their season.

“If we continue to develop these young guys we will be really good as we close the season,”

Coach Stone said of three freshmen who are part of the rotation.

DCS owned a 6-7 record as it came into the new year. Coach Stone credits playing inexperienced

players against a tough schedule for that.

“Our early-season schedule has been tough, but we expect to be a really good team come

tournament time,” said Stone, who led Dillon Christian to a 15-11 record last season.

Thompson Stone and Outlar were both averaging over 20 points a contest. Stone was averaging a

team high 24.7 points and also led the team in assists at 5.0 and steals at 6.5. He was pulling down 5.3

rebounds as well.

Outlar was leading the team in rebounding at 8.0. His scoring average was 21.5 to go along with

2.3 assists and 3.7 steals.

Senior Walker Chavis was averaging an even 11 points a game before being sidelined with a

knee injury. Freshman McKinnon Sampson has stepped in for Chavis, who is expected to return, and is

averaging 7.0 points.

“He has filled in well for him,” Coach Stone said.

The other two starters are junior forward Reese Bracey and junior center Braxton Cummings.

They help on the boards as Bracey was averaging 6.4 rebounds and Cummings 6.1.

`Two more freshmen are coming off the bench in guard Jordan Blackmon and center Jasper

McIntyre.

Coach Stone said the incorporation of the freshmen into the rotation has the Warriors starting to

take shape.

“We are where I thought we would be at this point,” he said. “We’re still trying to find our

defensive identity, but we’re beginning to gel as a team. With three freshmen in our rotation, it’s been a

learning experience, but all three are going to be really good players for us.”

Dillon Christian begins play in SCISA Region 3-AAA after the first of the year. The Warriors are

joined in the region by Pee Dee Academy, Florence Christian School, Williamsburg Academy and

Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, the defending AA state runner-up.