By Lonnie Turner

In a game of spurts, the Marion Swamp Foxes proved too strong for the Dillon Wildcats at the Cat’s Den Friday night bringing away a 69-65 Region 8-2A tilt.

Marquise McKelvy sparked an 18-16 run in the first quarter with 10 points for the Swamp Foxes, but the Wildcats got 11 points from senior guard Quincy Bethea in the second eight minutes of play to outscore Marion, 19-12, and took a five-point Dillon lead, 35-30, into the locker room at half time.

The scoring was fairly even in the third quarter with Marion outscoring the Wildcats 16-14 to cut the lead to three points at 49-46 and an 8-0 run to start the final quarter gave the Swamp Foxes a 54-52 lead.

McKelvy, who was held to only four points in the third quarter caught fire and poured in 10 points in the final eight minutes to notch the victory. The Wildcats battled back behind the shooting of Rashad Miles who scored 8 of his game high total of 13 points to cut the lead to 63-61, but Justin Gause went 7-7 from the free throw line to ice the win for Marion.

McKelvy led all scorers with 30 points and Dillon’s Bethea pumped in 21 points. Jakell Whittington scored 10 points.

Dillon will host the Loris Lions on Monday and will entertain Waccamaw on Thursday evening.

GIRLS

In girls action, Marion, led by Candice Wright’s 34 points, beat the Lady Cats, 69-52, despite Chelsea Frazier’s 39 points.

Frazier scored 16 in the second and 18 more in the third quarter, but was held to five in the final eight minutes as Wright scorched the net with 14 points during that same time frame.

In addition for the Cats, Tiffany Darrison added five and Mircale Harley joined Briana Lee with two points apiece.

For Marion, Tyshanna Lester finished behind Wright in double figures with 16 points.