The Dillon Wildcats fell 37-34 to Hemingway in the preseason Thanksgiving Jamboree at Mullins High School.

Dillon, Hemingway, Marion, Conway, Latta, Marlboro County, Wilson, and Mullins all participated in the annual preseason exhibition. Mullins has been hosting the Jamboree since 1995.

Each game lasted only two quarters, but each team came out ready to play. Hemingway’s Zachary Thomas led the Tigers over the Wildcats 37-34, while the Latta Vikings earned a 31-24 win over Marlboro County in their matchup.

Conway took a 32-26 win over Marion with a last-second slam dunk, and after trailing early on, Mullins battled their way back for a 45-42 win over Wilson.

The Wildcats are once again led by Coach Harold Wilson, now in his 16th year as head coach. With the Wildcats football team headed to the state championship this Friday, Wilson says his team will need a little more time to come together. But the boys basketball team will pick up several new players from the junior varsity team, who won the region last season.

“We feel we can make a competitive run in the region,” Wilson said.

The team also has several key returners, including Gabriel Salmon, Julius Saunders, Jaquan Knowlin, Sharif Myers, Anthony Blue, Eri’Reon Hayes, Avery McCall, and Gerome McLeod.

Next week, Dillon will host Marlboro County on Tuesday, December 10, and will be at South Robeson on Wednesday, December 11, and at Lake View on Friday, December 13. Make plans to attend home games to support our local teams!