The 9-5 Dillon Wildcats edged the 8-8 Aynor Blue Jackets 48-44 in varsity basketball action played in Dillon on Tuesday, January 13.
The tip-off was controlled by Aynor. Aynor’s Lucas Kamp connected for 3 points from the top of the key. Xavier Dukes added a 3-point basket to give the Blue Jackets a quick 6-0 lead. Dillon’s #0 hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the lead to 3 points. Dillon’s Kylan Manning added a 2-point basket to cut the lead to 1 point. Aynor’s Markis Morrison laid 1 in for 2 points and followed it with another 2-point layup to give Aynor a 10-5 lead. Dillon quickly began to eat into the lead and before long Dillon was up by 1 point, 14-13, after the first quarter. Dillon did not commit a foul in the first quarter while Aynor was guilty of only 1 foul.
The Blue Jackets built up a 7-point lead, 25-18, in the second quarter. As the quarter progressed, Dillon fought back and at halftime; Aynor led by 1 point, 28-27. Dillon committed 1 foul while Aynor committed 2 fouls in the quarter.
As the two teams raced back and forth across the court with each team scoring, the lead changed from one team to another and was tied on several occasions in the third quarter. As the quarter ended, Dillon was up 39-36. Dillon committed 4 fouls in the third quarter, and Aynor committed only 1 foul.
In the final quarter, Dillon took a 44-36 lead. Aynor pressed as time slipped by and was soon forced to foul. Dillon was up 46-40 wtih 41 seconds remaining. With 22 seconds remaining, Dillon was up 47-40. Aynor’s Markis Morrison sank a 2-point basket, and Cayden Ward connected with 2 free throws to cut Dillon’s lead to 3 points, 47-43 with 7 seconds remaining in the game! Dillon’s #0 sank a free throw to end the game with a 48-44 win for the Wildcats!
Bryan Grice is the head coach for Dillon and is assisted by Stacey Smith and James McMillian.
Aynor’s head coach is Jackson Woodle. The assistant coach is Landon Smith.
Dillon will host Marlboro County on Friday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m. while Aynor will be on the road to face Waccamaw on Friday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m.
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PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
