By Jeff Devine, Editor-in-Chief, Dale County Chronicle.
The Dale County High School Warriors hosted county rival Daleville Friday night, with the Warriors defeating They used a balanced offensive attack and relentless defensive pressure to secure a 68–54 victory over the in a hard-fought county rivalry matchup.
Dale County was paced by Jayden McGhee, who delivered a standout performance with 19 points and an impressive six steals, consistently disrupting Daleville’s rhythm on the perimeter. Junior Smith added a strong double-double, scoring 14 points while pulling down 12 rebounds, giving the Warriors a commanding presence in the paint. Jaylen Griffin chipped in nine points and eight rebounds, helping Dale County control the boards and limit second-chance opportunities.
Daleville stayed competitive behind the efforts of MJ Flowers, who led the Warhawks with 15 points and five rebounds. Joseph Ray also turned in a solid night, contributing 11 points and seven rebounds as Daleville worked to keep the game within reach.
Despite Daleville’s efforts, Dale County’s defensive intensity and steady scoring proved to be the difference, allowing the Warriors to pull away down the stretch and secure the county win. Dale County will host Ariton on January 27, while Daleville will travel to Headland on the same night. Dale County High School has also announced that its scheduled game against Slocomb has been moved from January 26 to Friday, January 30. The rest of their schedule remains the same.
In JV action, the Daleville Warhawks picked up a hard-fought 44–40 victory over the Dale County Warriors, pulling out the win in a tightly contested matchup that stayed close from start to finish. Daleville showed composure down the stretch, making key defensive stops and converting when it mattered most to secure the four-point win.
Offensively, Jacob Rivera led the JV Warhawks with nine points while also contributing two steals, helping set the tone on both ends of the floor. Lorenzo Green matched Rivera with nine points and added one steal, providing steady scoring and energy throughout the game.
