Region 5-AAA: Waccamaw vs. Dillon 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the regular season winding down, a number of teams are emerging as squads to watch as potential threats to win state early next month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those teams is Dillon in the 3A ranks. The Wildcats are the defending 3A Lower State champions and are in search of the big prize when tournament play commences in a bit more than a week. On Friday night – Senior Night – at Dillon, the Wildcats matched up against a Waccamaw team that entered Friday's play with a three-game winning streak.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to the Pee Dee for the region contest. Here are a few noteworthy names from the region clash.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["429829"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1726362,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69872f21690fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The mindset for Dillon has been unfinished business all 2025-26 long. Senior night on Friday night was no exception. By virtue of an eyebrow-raising 30-point outburst, the Wildcats concluded its regular season home schedule with the 59-35 victory to dispatch the visiting Warriors. She established herself as one of the state's premier 2028s in her freshman campaign last season and has only become more dangerous as a sophomore. In addition to her ability to score from all three levels, Davis is an on-court leader for her team. Davis also understands when the right times are to score and when the correct occasions are to pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["833034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1726370,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69872f216919a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of only two juniors on this team, containing McKinnon is key for any team looking to defeat Dillon. Waccamaw was unsuccessful as the scoreboard – and as her 13 points displayed. Being a 2027, those veteran instincts certainly display themselves on defense as McKinnon can match an opposing ball carrier step for step and move for move. Another element of her game where McKinnon shines is as a transition playmaker. McKinnon recently achieved a noteworthy individual milestone when she reached the 1,000-point plateau for her career. McKinnon would love to add a 3A state championship to that resume after getting close last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569805"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1726390,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69872f2169213"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One who says Prior is good at basketball is no liar. Waccamaw had a rough night at the office against the defending 3A Lower State champions – many a team can say that. Prior still put forth a valiant effort for her Warriors with 15 points. Prior is the second of the two team co-captains on Waccamaw's roster. Her ability to make plays by finding attacking lanes to the basket is one way she leads by example. Prior has played at the varsity level since she was a seventh grader and can get her team in the win column with her rebounding as much as she can as a scorer. Collecting a large amount of steals is another positive element to her game – as is connecting on attempts from the midrange. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1688762"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1726404,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69872f2169289"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On paper, Dillon should be a better team than Waccamaw for four quarters. Even though the Warriors did not achieve the result it was looking for, Waccamaw's sophomore big and team co-captain paced the Warriors efforts with a 12-point outing. Bender becoming a team captain as a sophomore is a reflection of the trust she has earned from her teammates and coaching staff while still being relatively young. Bender leads by example with the offensive production she gives her team from the interior and she also bolsters Waccamaw's rebounding efforts. Bender is one of three 2028s on this season's Warriors group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->