The Dillon Lady Wildcats varsity basketball team defeated the Lake Marion Gators 66-17 in Dillon Tuesday, February 16, in region 8-2A playoff action. Dillon controlled the opening tip-off as well as the entire game. Dillon never trailed in this game while substituting liberally from the onset of the game.
Jykya Bell of Dillon scored the first points of the game connecting on two free throws to give Dillon a 2-0 lead. DaKerhia Samuel, #32 for the Wildcats, sank a 2-pointer. Khamele Manning scored a 2-point conversion and quickly hit a 3-pointer before Lake Marion placed the first two points of the game on the scoreboard. Samuel powered up on the next play to score another two points. Khamele Manning continued to pour on the points with another 2-point conversion on her way to scoring 18 points for the ‘Cats in the game.  Ja’Neequa McCrimmon connected on one of two free throws for the Lady Cats. Dria Campbell, #22 for Dillon, went the distance of the court to lay one in for two points. Lake Marion’s #32 scored a 2-point conversion on the very next play of the game. With 2:28 remaining in the first quarter the Wildcats led 14-4 over the Gators. For the first time in the game, Lake Marion displayed some offense while scoring on three plays in a row as #10 hit a 2-point conversion, and #32 connected for another two points before Adrina McCollum, Dillon’s #33, hit one for two points. Khamele Manning connected for a long three while #32 for Lake Marion hit another 2-pointer. Dillon’s DaKeria Samuel hit another basket for two points, and Khamele Manning also connected one for two points. After one quarter of play, the Dillon Wildcats led 22-10.
Khamele Manning opened the second quarter with a 2-point conversion followed by Kendra McLeod who hit one for three points. Jykya Bell, #14 for Dillon, sank one for 2 points. Khamele Manning, who seemed to be having a good shooting night, connected on another one for 2 points as Dillon now led 29-12 with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter. Dillon’s #12, A’Dosha Graves connected on one for two points.
Ja’Neequa McCrimmon garnered two points on two free throws to add to Dillon’s already commanding lead only to have Khamele Manning add a 3-pointer to Dillon’s growing lead.
Ja’Ronda McCrimmon put one in for two points. With 3:59 remaining in the second quarter Dillon’s lead was now 38-12. During a time-out at this point, DaKerhia Samuel was recognized as having scored 1,000 points in her career with the Wildcats.  Dria Campbell, #22 for Dillon, hit one for two points. On the next offensive play for Dill, #20, JaRhonda McCrimmon, laid in an easy one for two points.
Khamele Manning added another two points for the ‘Cats. With 1:02 remaining in the half, Dillon led 44-12. As the second quarter was nearly over, #10 for Lake Marion hit one for two points to make the score Dillon 44 and Lake Marion 14 at the half.
Ny’Asia Campbell, Dillon’s #23, scoared the last four points of the game to make the final score 66 and Lake Marion 17.
Adrianna McCollum scored 12 points for Dillon while DaKerhia Samuel and Jykya Bell each added 8 points. Ja’Rhonda McCrimmon had 4 points, and Ja’Neequa McCrimmon scored 3 points. Dria Campbell and Ny’Asia Campbell each had 4 points while Kendra McLeod had 3, and A’Doshia Graves had 2.
Dillon’s record is 22 wins and 2 losses for this season.
Dillon will play the winner of Ridgeville and Hardeeville for the next game.

Dillon’s Jyka Bell (14), Da’Kerhia Samuel (32) , and Khamele Manning were named All Region Players for Region 8-2A. Khamele Manning was named Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Congratulations to these players.