HARTSVILLE — In a game that came down to the final possession, Hartsville delivered when it mattered most, edging Darlington 66-64 on Friday night behind a dramatic buzzer-beater from Kayson Dawson.

Hartsville carried a 36-30 lead into halftime, highlighted by a momentum-shifting sequence late in the second quarter when Dawson rejected a Darlington shot and immediately finished on the other end with a powerful dunk.

The Red Foxes extended their advantage early in the third quarter, pushing the lead to double digits midway through the period. Darlington, however, refused to go away. With 1:02 left in the third, the game was tied at 47 before Darlington buried a three at the buzzer to take a 50-49 lead — their first lead of the night.

The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle. Dorian Mason provided a key spark for Hartsville, tying the game at 57 with an and-one finish with 4:03 remaining. Hartsville later regained the lead at 62-61 with 2:21 to play and went up 64-61 with 1:05 remaining following a timeout.

Darlington answered once more, tying the game at 64 with 41 seconds left and setting the stage for a final possession. With the clock winding down, Kelly Price’s shot attempt came up short, but Dawson was in the right place at the right time. He grabbed the offensive rebound and calmly knocked down the game-winning jumper from the left wing as the buzzer sounded.

Hartsville sealed the thrilling 66-64 victory, capping a hard-fought contest defined by grit, resilience, and a clutch finish.