The Dillon Wildcats fell 68-66 to the Lake City Panthers in the first round of the Class AA boys basketball playoffs on Thursday night in Lake City.

The Wildcats trailed 51-43 after the third quarter and managed to outscore the Panthers 23-17 in the fourth. Dillon had three chance to tie, but couldn’t close the gap. The Wildcats also struggled on the free throw line, hitting just 10 out of 32.

Eri’Reon Hayes led the Wildcats in the effort with a game-high 18 points, with Julius Saunders adding 13 and Jalik Bethea scoring 12. Anthony Blue earned five points, Gabe Salmon, Jr., scored four, and Gerome McLeod, Avery McCall, and JaQuan Knowlin each added two for the Wildcats.

Lake City’s Keith Burgess scored 15 points and Larry Cooper earned 12 to lead the Panthers. DeAndre McCants earned 10; Dontrey Barr, 9; Mylique McFadden, 6; Elgin Morris, 4; Johnny Butler 4; and Michael Dunbar, Devonte McKnight, Andreaus Hammond, and Najee Woods each contributed two points in the win.

Lake City improved to 18-6 and was scheduled to travel to Mullins on Saturday for the second round of playoffs.

The Wildcats fell to 17-8 for the season. The Dillon coaches said they were proud of the Wildcats and their effort in the game.

“It was a great game. They fought down to the wire.”

Elsewhere in the first round of lower state playoffs, Mullins defeated Timberland 71-62 to advance; Lee Central eliminated Marion 60-44; Lake Marion defeated Waccamaw 83-62; Edisto defeated Garrett 74-59; Ridgeland-Hardeeville defeated Silver Bluff 51-40; Battery Creek eliminated Wade Hampton 70-40; and Calhoun County Defeated Burke 78-67.

In the upper state, Crescent, Abbeville, Newberry, Mid-Carolina, Keenan, Cheraw, Indian Land, and Fairfield-Central all advanced to the second round.

On Saturday, Calhoun County defeated Battery-Creek 48-36 and Ridgeland-Hardeeville defeated Edisto 67-48 to advance to the third round. Lake Marion eliminated Lee Central 61-55, and Mullins defeated Lake City 78-66 and will host Lake Marion Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.

In the upper state, Abbeville, Newberry, Keenan, and Indian Land all advanced to round three. Newberry and Indian Land will host on Wednesday.