Dillon – With only two players returning with any measurable varsity experience, Dillon Christian School boys basketball head coach Bo Stone didn’t know quite what the 2023-24 campaign would hold. Well, it ended up being quite a year.
The Warriors went 15-11 on the season, won the SCISA Region 3-AA title and advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament.
“Our season went really well, and our guys exceeded expectations,” Stone said. “With only two guys returning with any real experience on varsity, I didn’t know what to expect.”
Those two guys were Thompson Stone, the coach’s son, and Jackson Outlar. Both were juniors who upped their games in tremendous ways. Along with sophomore Sean Locklear, they were the primary offensive weapons for DCS.
All three were selected to the All-Region team with Stone being named Player of the Year. Stone averaged 18.5 points per game and 4.3 rebounds to go with team highs in steals at 3.7 and assists at 4.6.
Stone was the region tournament Most Valuable Player and was also selected to the All-Tournament team for the state tournament.
Outlar led Dillon Christian in scoring and rebounding at 20.5 and 7.1, respectively. He also averaged 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals.
Locklear averaged 15.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals.
Both Outlar and Locklear were All-Region picks. All three were selected to play in the SCISA North-South All-Star Game.
“Our strength was our ability to stretch the floor offensively with our 3-point shooting, then attacking the basket when you had to extend your defense,” Coach Stone said.
Senior center Cole McPherson only averaged 1.9 points, but grabbed 5.8 rebounds. Coach Stone said McPherson brought a lot to the team in term of leadership along with Outlar and his son.
“We got great leadership from our lone senior starter, Cale McPherson, and from our two returning starters, Outlar and Stone,” Coach Stone said. “These guys set the example for how we wanted to play.”
Other key contributors were sophomore Reese Bracey and sophomore Braxton Cummings. Bracey only averaged 1.2 points, but he grabbed 5.8 rebounds and had 2.5 steals. Cummings averaged 4.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.
“Reese Bracey set the tone for us defensively, and Braxton Cummings provided some physicality at the center spot that we haven’t had in a number of years,” Coach Stone said.
Coach Stone likes the way the program is trending.
“We lose two seniors, Cale McPherson and Ron Bracey,” he said. “Both were great leaders and provided a strong presence on the court and at practice. We return the bulk of our scoring, and I imagine with another year in our offseason program we should be really good again next year.”
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