For the second year in a row, Dillon’s Lady Wildcats have advanced to the Class 2A girls basketball lower state championship to face Bishop England.

Dillon defeated Whale Branch 56-44 on Wednesday night to advance in the playoffs. Dillon’s Adriana McCollum earned a team-high 13 points and Da’Kerhia Samuel added 12 to lead the Lady Wildcats in the win.

The Lady Cats will now face the Battling Bishops of Bishop England in the lower state championship this Saturday, February 28, at the Florence Civic Center at 2:00 p.m.

The Bishops entered the playoffs as the top seed from Region 6-2A and the defending state champions. They shut out Edisto 87-17 in the first round and defeated Lake Marion 88-43 in the second before defeating Ridgeland-Hardeeville 56-34 on Wednesday night to advance. Bishop England is 20-4 overall this season.

In the upper state, Newberry defeated Indian Land 66-36 to advance to the upper state championship. Pendleton was scheduled to host Keenan tonight to determine which team would advance to Saturday’s game.

Last season, Bishop England defeated Dillon 68-53 in the lower state title game before defeating Andrew Jackson 59-26 for the state title.

In Class A girls action, Latta’s Lady Vikings will take on the Carvers Bay Bears on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Florence Civic Center for the Class A lower state title. The Vikings and the Bears met twice in the regular season, with Latta earning a 61-51 win in the first encounter and falling 63-42 in the second.

Latta, the defending Class A state champ, earned a 62-31 win over Cross in the semi-finals to earn a shot at the lower state title, while Carvers Bay edged Timmonsville 61-59 to advance.

In the upper state, Christ Church will take on Calhoun County at the Bon Secours Arena.

Make plans to be at the Florence Civic Center this Saturday to support our local teams!

Look for more basketball photos and game coverage in the Tuesday, March 3, issue of THE DILLON HERALD and visit us here on Saturday for playoff updates!

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