The Dillon Wildcats bounced back from recent region losses with a 61-50 win over the visiting Loris Lions on Friday night in varsity basketball action.

The Wildcats took a 20-11 lead in the first quarter and went 19-13 in the second for a 39-24 lead at the half. The Lions rallied in the third to go 13-9 over Dillon, but both teams added 13 points in the fourth to allow Dillon to preserve the win.

Tyreik McAlister scored a team-high 21 points to lead Dillon in the win, and Joe Manning added 10 points with 13 rebounds for the Wildcats. Julius Saunders scored nine points and Gabe Salmon, Jr., and Jaquan Knowlin each added eight. Eri’Reon Hayes earned six points, Avery McCall added four, and Sharif Myers contributed one point in the win, with Lawrence Crouch and Gerome McLeod each adding two.

Tyree Floyd led Loris with a game-high 19 points and Deontae Wideman added eight points in the effort. Zeke Beckman, Shawn Simmons, and Zach Faircloth each scored five points, and Kevin Gore and Travon Morgan each earned three, with Bennett Winslow contributing two for the Lions.

Dillon improved to 13-4 overall and now possesses a 2-2 record in Region 8-2A.

The Wildcats are scheduled to host Waccamaw tonight at 6:00 p.m. Waccamaw has a 7-7 record so far this season and a 1-2 record in the region.

On Friday, Dillon is set to travel to face Aynor, now 8-8 and 0-4 in the region. But on Tuesday, February 4, the Wildcats will be back home to face Mullins. The Auctioneers edged Dillon 80-78 in their first meeting and are now 11-6 overall and 3-0 in the region. Game times are set for 6:00 p.m., so make plans to attend to support our local team!

Photos by Johnnie Daniels/THE DILLON HERALD. Click the images below to view at full size!