By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The Warriors closed out regular-season play on a strong note Tuesday night, defeating the Tigers 64–55 in a non-area matchup as both teams prepared for the upcoming area tournament.
Dale County was led by Jayden McGhee, who scored a game-high 21 points. Junior Smith delivered a dominant performance in the paint with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaquez Britt added 10 points to give the Warriors three players in double figures.
Luverne stayed within striking distance throughout the contest behind senior Omar Crumbly, who finished with an impressive 25 points, and junior Jadin Harris, who added 22. The Tigers entered the game with a strong résumé, having been ranked as high as No. 1 in the ASWA Class 2A rankings. The Warriors’ victory over a strong competitor may give them an extra boost of momentum that may prove helpful going into the Area Championship semifinals.
Despite Luverne’s offensive output, Dale County controlled the boards and executed efficiently down the stretch, limiting second-chance opportunities and converting key possessions to secure the win.
With the regular season complete, Dale County now turns its attention to Class 4A Area 3 tournament play. The Warriors enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 3 seed, Ashford High School, on Friday, February 6, at 5:30 p.m. inGeneva. The winner of that matchup will advance to the area championship game on Tuesday.
