Dillon defeated Lee Central on Thursday night to advance to the Lower State Finals on Saturday. Dillon won the game, 73-69. Here is a gallery of photos from the game:

PHOTOS BY JOHNNIE DANIELS/THE DILLON HERALD
Click once on a photo to bring it into a single screen and then again to enlarge.

The Dillon Wildcats varsity basketball team defeated the Lee Central Stallions 73 to 69 in Dillon Thursday, Feb. 25, in the third round of Class 2-A playoffs and advanced  to the Lower State Championship Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Florence Civic Center.
Lee Central scored first in the game after the opening tip-off but the Wildcats quickly answered with a 2-pointer of their own to knot the score at 2. The ‘Cats Raheem McClam grabbed a rebound and sank a basket for 2 points to give Dillon their first lead of the game at 4 to 2. However, the Stallions #5  hit 1 for 2 to tie the game at 4.  The Stallions #00 sank a basket to give Lee Central their first lead of the night. A couple of plays later #23 for the Stallions connected on a basket for 2 before Dillon’s Javier Brookins hit one for 2 to cut the Stallions’ lead to 2. Ja’Quan Knowlin, Dillon’s Center, connected on 1 of 2 free throws to bring the score to only a 1-point lead for the Stallions. However, on the next offensive play for Dillon, Knowlin connected on a reverse lay-up to give Dillon a 9 to 8 lead. Dillon quickly scored another 2 points from the field before Darius Bethea sank 2 free throws for the ‘Cats to give Dillon a 13 to 8 lead. Darius Bethea, Dillon’s #5, connected on another free throw to put Dillon ahead 14 to 8.  Dillon’s Knowlin sank 2 free throws to give Dillon a 16 to 8 lead. The Wildcats Darius Bethea hit a basket for 2 and Dillon’s Rakeem Fletcher added another 2 points to give Dillon a 20 to 8 lead.  As the buzzer sounded the Stallions #3 sank a 3-pointer to close the gap to a 9-point lead for Dillon.
Dillon’s Darius Bethea scored the first 2 points of the second half quickly followed by Raheem McClam, Dillon’s #42, who sank a basket for 2. Javier Brookins added 2 free throws for the ‘Cats.
The Stallions’ #3 it a 2-pointer to cut Dillon’s lead to 7 points before Zareon Hayes scored 2 points to put Dillon ahead by 9. Dillon’s Darius Bethea connected on 2 free throws before the Stallions’ #22 hit a 3-pointer followed by Lee Central connecting on a 2-pointer to cut Dillon’s lead to 6 points.
Zareon Hayes for Dillon hit 1 for 2, and the Stallions’ #15 connected on 1 of his free throws.
Dillon began an offensive surge while Khary White connected for 2, Ja’Quan Knowlin hit 2 free throws, and Khary White hit anoterh basket for 2 to give Dillon a 32 to 23 lead.
Lee Central’s #00 hit a basket for 2, and #5 for the Stallions hit a 3 pointer.
Dillon’s Knowlin grabbed a rebound and scored 2 points beneath the basket.
With 1:10 left in the second quarter #5 connects on 2 free throws to cut Dillon’s lead to 4.
Rakeem Fletcher of the ‘Cats sank 1 for 3 to give Dillon a 7-point lead.
Dillon’s Jallian Williams connected on 2 free throws before the half to give Dillon a 39 to 30 lead.
The Stallions’ #00 grabbed a rebound and connected for 2 points for the first score of the second half.
Dillon’s Rakeem Fletcher hit 1 for 2 and Javier Brookins added another 2-pointer for the ‘Cats before the Stallions’ #22 connected on a long 3.
Keenan Norman added to Dillon’s lead when he connected for 2 free throws before the Stallions’ #23 hit 1 for 2 and #21 for Lee Central also connected for 2 points.
Dillon’s Zareon hits 1 of 2 free throws.  Dillon’s lead was now 6 points.
However, the Stallions #11 cut the lead to only 3 when he connected for a long 3.
The Wildcats’ Zareon Hayes sank 1 for 2.
Lee Central’s #00 cut Dillon’s lead to 3 again when he hit 1 for 2 points.
The ‘Cats’ Zareon Hayes sank a basket for a long 3 to increase Dillon’s lead to 6 points.
The Stallions’ #11 shot 2 technical fouls but missed both. Lee Central’s #21 connected on 1 of 2 free throws to cut Dillon’s lead to 5. The Stallions’ #21 sank a basket for 2 before Dillon’s Raheem McClam hit on 2 free throws.
After 3 quarters Dillon led 54 to 49.
Dillon’s Keenan Norman hit 1 for 2 points for the first score of the final period. He then connected for a 2-point basket to increase Dillon’s lead 58 to 49.
Lee Central’s #22 connected on 2 free throws. Dillon’s Ja’Quan Knowlin grabbed a rebound and sank a 2-pointer beneath the basket to give Dillon a 9-point lead.
Lee Central’s #22 sank a long 3 before #00 for the Stallions hit 1 for 2 to cut Dillon’s lead to only 6 points.
The Wildcats’ Ja’Quan Knowlin brought the Dillon fans to their feet when he slammed 1 for 2. Soon after that shot he connected on 2 free throws to give Dillon an 8-point lead.
The Stallions’ #22 hit 1 of 2 free throws.
Dillon’s Darius Bethea laid 1 in for 2 to give Dillon a 66 to 57 lead with 2:50 remaining in the game.
Rakeem Fletcher, #15 for Dillon, calmly sank 2 free throws to give Dillon an 11-point lead with 2:18 remaining.
Lee Central’s #21 drove to the basket, sank a 2-pointer, and was fouled.  He connected on the free throw to cut the lead to 8.
The ‘Cats’ Darius Bethea connected on 1 of 2 free throws while the Stallions’ #1 also connected on 1 of 2 free throws
Dillon’s Darius Bethea returned to the charity line where he sank 1 of 2 free throws with 1:18 remaining in the game.
Lee Central’s #21 connected on 2 free throws on a double technical while Dillon’s Keenan Wright missed both.
Dillon’s Rakeem Fletcher hit 1 of 2 fre throws to give Dillon a 71 to 63 lead.
Lee Central’s #21 was again called on to shoot another technical call where he sank both shots to cut the lead to only 6 with 38 seconds remaining. The Stallions’ #00 connected on a 2-point basket to cut Dillon’s lead to only 4 with 28 seconds remaining.
Dillon’s Darius Bethea hit a 2-pointer with only 9 seconds remaining.
The Stallions’ #21 connected on 2 free throws for the last points of the game.
The Dillon Wildcats won 73 to 69.
Ja’Quan Knowlin led the Wildcats with a game-high 16 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocked shots, 1 deflection, and 2 assists. Darius Bethea added 11 points, grabbed 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 3 assists. Zareon Hayes had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal. Keenan Norman had 9 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists.
Rakeem Fletcher added 8 points, 1 deflection, and 5 assists. Raheem McClam had 4 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots, Javier Brooks scored 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 2 steals, and 1 deflection, and Corrian Wright and Jallian Williams each scored 2 points.
The Lee Central Stallions were led in scoring by Thomas with 14, followed by Cooper with 12, Holloman with 11, Reddick with 10, Nixon had 8, McDowell with 4, Wilson had 2, and Smith had 1.
The Dillon Wildcats are now 21 and 5.
The ‘Cats played Timberland on Saturday in Florence for the 2-A Lower State Championship.