Dillon Christian Basketball Recap

Dillon Christian girls finish 7-17

By Dennis Brunson

hssr.com Associate Editor

Dillon – The season didn’t go quite the way hoped for by the Dillon Christian School girls basketball team. The Warriors finished just 7-17 overall though they did go 4-4 in SCISA Region 3-AAA. That wasn’t enough to earn a berth in the state tournament.

           Still head coach Kelly McColl was pleased with the development the team showed from beginning to end.

           “We lost five from our team from last year (which made the AA state playoffs) and two were starters and key players,” said McColl, who just completed her third season as head coach and is assisted by Bridget Elvington and Sidney Harrelson. “We started off out season slow, having to learn each other all over again. They improved greatly over the season and it has been fun to watch.

“We moved up to AAA this season so we knew the competition would be tougher, but they have proved they can compete with them. Offensively and defensively, they’ve grown and working more collectively as a team than in past seasons.”

           The three returning starrers were Lily King, Chloe Powell and Braylin Carter. King, a senior who McColl called her best shooter, averaged 7.5 points per game and led the team in assists. Powell, also a senior, averaged 5.4 points. Carter, a sophomore post player, led in scoring at 12.6 points and was also the leading rebounder.

           The other two starters were freshman Shelby Dial, who averaged 2.9 points, and senior Molly Andrews, who averaged 1.7 points. Key reserves off the bench were eighth-graders Alyana Locklear ad Fraley Britt. Locklear averaged 4.4 points.

           The other member of the team was sophomore Lila English.



           STONE, OUTLAR BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-REGION PICKS

           Seniors Thompson Stone and Jackson Outlar were selected to the All-Region 4 boys basketball team. Both also played in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game.

           Stone led the Warriors in scoring at 20.7 while averaging 4.7 in rebounds, assists and steals. Outlar averaged 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals.

           DCS finished with an 11-16 record but made the state tournament. The Warriors lost to Spartanburg Day School 76-59 in the first round.

           “Our season this year was derailed a bit by injuries,” said head coach Bo Stone. “We knew going in that depth was a possible issue. We lost starting guard Walker Chavis to a season-ending knee injury five games into the season. Then after Christmas, point guard Thompson Stone missed significant time with high ankle sprains, then went out early in the state tournament with another injury to the other leg.

           “While he was out, freshman guards McKinnon Sampson, Jordan Blackmon and Gray Easterling filled in admirably, which will help them in the future. With center Jasper McIntyre improving, that gives us four freshmen with significant experience to pair with juniors Reese Bracey and Braxton Cummings.”