The Dillon Wildcats took third place in the Robeson County Shootout, falling to Lumberton in double overtime in the second round but defeating Richmond County on Saturday, December 21, at UNC Pembroke.
The Wildcats defeated Purnell Swett 97-89 in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday, December 18, to advance to face Lumberton in the second round on Friday.
Lumberton took a commanding 22-8 lead in the first quarter and both teams added 10 points in the second to give the Pirates a 32-18 lead at the half. But the Wildcats began to rally in the third, outscoring Lumberton 21-15 to trail 47-39 heading into the fourth. Dillon again outpaced the Pirates 25-17 to knot the game at 64-64 and send them into their first overtime. Both teams added 10 points to keep the score tied at 74 and send the game into a second overtime, where the two teams exchanged the lead four times in the final minute. But Lumberton got the win in the end, edging Dillon 11-8 for the final score of 85-82.
Dillon’s Jaquan Knowlin earned a game-high 23 points in the effort, and Julius Saunders added 18 with Eri’reon Hayes scoring 11. Lawrence Crouch added 9; Tyreik McCallister, 8; McCall, 7; Salmon, 4; and Myers, 2. Saunders hit two three-point goals and Crouch and McCallister each sank one. Knowlin also grabbed 19 rebounds and made eight blocks for the Wildcats.
Lumberton was led by Travis Suggs and Justice Sampson, each scoring a team-high 17 points, with Demetri Sheridan adding 15. Keanu Brock added 11; Xavier Grissett, 8; Jamal Cromartie, 6; Colby Johnson, 4; Darius Floyd, 3; Y’Shawn Gaddy, 2; and Will Everette, 2. Sampson hit three three-point goals in the win.
Lumberton advanced to a record 11th championship appearance in the 28-year history of the tournament, while Dillon prepared to battle Richmond County for the third place spot.
The Wildcats narrowly outscored Richmond 24-22 in the first quarter and both teams added 14 points in the second to give the Wildcats a 38-36 lead at the half. Richmond managed to squeak past Dillon in the third, outscoring the Wildcats 22-19 to take a 58-57 lead at the end of the third. The Wildcats kept up the pressure,but still trailed 73-72 with 29 seconds left in the game, but Knowlin poured in the final points to help Dillon go 21-16 in the fourth and give the Wildcats a 78-74 win.
Knowlin led Dillon with a game-high 23 points and Julius Saunders added 20, with Anthony Blue adding 11. Crouch scored 9; Hayes, 6; McCallister, 4; Salmon, 3, and Manning, 2. Saunders sank six three-point goals and Blue had one in the win.
Richmond was led by T.J. Watkins with a team-high 21 points and Greg Patterson with 19. Sidney Neely added 10; O. Patterson scored 9; Davis, 8; and Pettigrew, 7. Watkins, Patterson, and Patterson each hit three three-pointers in the effort.
Lumberton went on to claim the boys shootout title, narrowly holding off a fourth quarter rally from Fairmont for a 64-63 win. Red Springs took fifth place, defeating South Robeson 75-52 on Saturday.
Dillon’s Jaquan Knowlin was named to the All-Tournament Team, alongside Richmond’s Sidney Neely and Purnell Swett’s Tyler Maynor. Lumberton’s Justice Sampson, Demetri Sheridan, and Travis Suggs all made the team, and Suggs was named the tournament MVP.
Malik Livingston of St. Pauls, Jared Foster of Red Springs, Reggie Scippio of South Robeson, and Jarrod Neal and Shemar Barfield of Fairmont, were also named All-Tournament.
The Wildcats are now 5-2 overall and were scheduled to face Eau Claire in the first round of the Farm Bureau Insurance Classic on Thursday, December 26. Dillon will return to regular season action on Tuesday, January 7, at Latta.
