The Dillon Lady Wildcats advanced to the third round of the playoffs with a 69-53 win over the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Lady Bruinettes on Saturday, February 20, in Dillon.
Orangeburg-Wilkinson controlled the tip-off. Dillon’s Khw-Nylahi McKinnon scored the first point of the game with a free throw. The Bruinettes’ Shanyria Kiett scored the first basket of the game…and the game was on! Treasure Davis connected for a 2-point basket and was fouled . She added the free throw to give Dillon a 4-2 lead after the first quarter. The fast-paced, physical game was creating lots of excitement and fouls as each each team committed 5 fouls in the first quarter.
Khw-Nylahi McKinnon laid one in for 2 points to begin the second quarter followed by Alexia Cleckley with a 3-point basket for the Bruinettes. McKinnon answere diwth a bank-in for 2 points. Treasure Davis added a free throw for the Lady Wildcats. My’Ciara Creech added a 3-point basket from the corner for Orangeburg-Wilkinson. Withe 3″21 remaining in the half, Dillon led 28-18. The Dillon fans came alive as Treasure Davis hit a 3-from-long range and was fouled. With 2:44 remaining in the first half, Dillon led 32-18. At halftime, Dillon was up 36-21. Dillon committed 4 fouls while Orangeburg-Wilkinson committed 5 fouls.
Early in the third quarter, Dillon led 36-23. McKinnon added a 2-point basket. The fans from Orangeburg-Wilkinson cheered when Shanaza McCorkle connected for 2 points on a reverse layup. Lots of the players for both teams were scoring. As the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter, McKinnon sank a 3-point basket to close-out the third quarter with Dillon on top 50-34. Once again, both teams committed many fouls in this action-packed, fast-paced game.
With 5:01 remaining in the game, Dillon was up 54-43. With 3:01 remaining, Dillon was up 59-43. With 2:24 remaining, Dillon led 61-46. With 1:57 remaining, Dillon was up 64-46. Dillon led 65-49 with 1:40 remaining. Both teams refused to slow down. With 1:08 remaining, Dillon was up 69-51. The last score of the game was by Shanyria Kiett with a 2-point basket in the final moments of the game.
Cedrick Simpson is the head coach for the Bruinettes. He was assisted by Jayson Leverett, Curshina Hilliard, and Jalen Mack-Simpson.
Orangeburg-Wilkinson’s season ended with 15 wins and 11 losses overall and 6-2 in region play.
Dillon’s head coach is James McMillian. He is assisted by Michelle Keyes-Gibbons.
Dillon is 23-2 overall and 10-0 in region play.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
