Dayton Christian showcased resilience, depth, and star power at the Preble Shawnee Holiday Classic, finishing third after a hard-fought loss to Edgewood and a strong bounce-back win over Twin Valley South. Senior forward Caden Shepherd earned All-Tournament Team honors, averaging an impressive 13.5 points and 10 rebounds per game across the two contests.

Game 1: Warriors Fight Hard in 73–63 Loss to Edgewood

The tournament opened with a spirited effort from Dayton Christian, who battled throughout but ultimately fell 73–63 to a talented Edgewood squad. The Warriors struggled early as Edgewood used a pair of scoring runs to build a first-quarter lead, but senior Caden Shepherd kept DC in striking distance with 8 early points, including a three-pointer.

Senior Reid Collins took over in the middle quarters, pouring in 19 points on efficient shooting and knocking down three triples. Shepherd added 16 points and 9 rebounds, while sophomore Henry Meredith sparked a fourth-quarter rally with back-to-back threes on his way to 11 points. Senior Brayden Kidd also reached double figures with 11 points, and senior Josh Hamlett provided valuable minutes off the bench and finished with 4 points on 2-3 shooting.

Despite the loss, the Warriors’ regrouped and set the tone for their response the following day.

Game 2: Dayton Christian Rebounds Strong, Defeats Twin Valley South 71–59

The Warriors stormed back in their second game, defeating Twin Valley South 71–59 to secure third place and improve to 6–3 on the season. After trailing 17–12 after one quarter, Dayton Christian erupted in the second, fueled by senior Brayden Kidd, who drilled back-to-back threes to tie and then followed with another 2 point basket to take the lead.

Junior Rylan Slavens followed with a scorching stretch of three straight three-pointers, helping DC build their lead and sophomore Cole Woodall hit his first varsity bucket giving the Warriors a 41–34 halftime advantage. Kidd finished with a standout 24 points, shooting 9-17 from the field and 3-5 from deep. Slavens added 14 points and four threes of his own.

Dayton Christian’s offensive rhythm was driven not just by shot-making but by exceptional ball movement. The Warriors tallied an impressive 20 assists, with senior Reid Collins orchestrating the offense and leading the team with 8 assists. Shepherd continued his dominant tournament play with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Meredith again provided perimeter firepower with 11 points and three triples.

The Warriors maintained control throughout the second half, stretching their lead to as much as 16 in the fourth quarter. Their unselfish play and balanced scoring effort highlighted the team chemistry that powered their strong tournament finish.

A Strong Tournament Showing

With a competitive showing against Edgewood and a convincing win over Twin Valley South, the Warriors left the Holiday Classic with momentum and a clear identity: balanced scoring, tough rebounding, and a refusal to quit. Shepherd’s All-Tournament selection highlighted a weekend of standout performances across the roster, positioning Dayton Christian well as they continue their season Friday night 1/2 with a home game against SWBL foe Waynesville. JVB tips at 4:30pm followed by JV @ 6:00pm and Varsity @ 7:15pm.