Dreher sophomore Quayshun Hawkins brings the ball up court. Hawkins scored a game high 18 for the Blue Devils. Behind the three- point shooting of Chris Brown and Quayshun Hawkins, Dreher rallied from a five- point halftime deficit to defeat Midland Valley on Tuesday January 13, 63- 54. Hawkins scored 14 of his game high 18 in the second half to lead the Blue Devils.

With each team playing a tough 2- 3 zone defense, neither offense was able to accomplish much in the first quarter. Passing, shooting jump shots, and largely eschewing the lane defined the offensive look in the first.

Whenever Dreher did try to take the ball inside, Midland Valley's huge center Byron Coleman would block or alter the shots. The Mustangs managed one shot more than the Blue Devils for an 11- 9 lead after one.

The second quarter saw Midland Valley slip in behind the back line of Dreher's zone and score several inside buckets. Dreher continued to fire long- range shots but could not connect. The Blue Devils were able to score in transition, and Dominic Boyd took over the game for the final minutes of the first half. Boyd's seven consecutive points brought Dreher back and reduced the deficit to a single point. But the Mustangs' Gary Wade banked in a three- pointer at the buzzer to extend the lead to 24- 20.

Midland Valley's Niko Hatcher tries unsuccessfully to shoot over Dreher's Aaron Johnson. Brown and Hawkins began to heat up in the third quarter, knocking down threes and bringing the score within a single point on two different occasions. But Wade and Marquett Carr found holes in the Dreher defense and were able to drive to the hoop and score to counter. The result was a 39- 34 lead after three for the Mustangs.

Hawkins opened the fourth with a three- pointer and shortly thereafter, Brown tallied another of his own to again reach just a one point deficit. Brown's long jumper was the start of a 9- 0 run by Dreher over the course of two minutes to not only give the Blue Devils the lead but extend it to a five- point advantage with five minutes left.

Late in the quarter, Dreher turnovers led to several quick baskets by Midland Valley's Nolan Meyer and only a threepoint advantage for Dreher. But free throws by Hawkins, Brown, and Dominique Nathaniel preserved the Blue Devil lead and a well- earned Region V- 3A victory.

Dreher's Dominic Boyd dribbles on the perimeter.