Dayton Christian closed out its regular season with a hard-fought home battle against Valley View, ultimately falling 72–50 to finish 12–9 overall and 7–7 in conference play. The final margin didn’t reflect how competitive the Warriors were for most of the night, as they remained within striking distance until a late scoring drought over the final five-plus minutes allowed the Spartans to pull away.

The Warriors opened the game with intensity, racing out to an 8–2 lead behind a scorching start from sophomore Henry Meredith, who buried back-to-back threes to ignite the home crowd. Senior Caden Shepherd added a field goal and a three-pointer of his own as Dayton Christian’s balanced offense kept pace through the first three and a half quarters.

The second quarter delivered some of the most exciting stretches of the night, featuring multiple lead changes. Senior Reid Collins knocked down a clutch three to briefly put the Warriors ahead 24–23, while junior Rylan Slavens poured in seven points in the period to keep Dayton Christian within reach. The Warriors trailed just 33–31 at halftime, showing poise and resilience against a strong Valley View squad.

Senior Brayden Kidd delivered a standout performance, leading Dayton Christian with 17 points on efficient shooting. Kidd went a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line, hit 2 of 3 from deep, and finished at 50% from the field. Shepherd added 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including a timely three-pointer, while Slavens reached double figures with 10 points and connected on 2 of 3 attempts from beyond the arc. Meredith’s early spark helped him finish with 8 points despite a challenging shooting night.

Though Valley View surged ahead late, the Warriors’ effort never wavered. Their competitive showing and strong individual performances provide momentum as they shift their focus to postseason play. With the offense showing strong balance and confidence throughout the majority of the evening, Dayton Christian enters the state tournament with confidence in its offensive potential.

The Warriors now turn their attention to their first-round matchup against Preble Shawnee—a chance to avenge last year’s tournament exit. Tipoff is set for Thursday night, February 26, at 8 PM at Bethel High School.