BASKETBALL: Dublin edged by Wheeler in hoops debuts

Dublin’s basketball teams opened their 2025 seasons Tuesday night at home, and suffered a couple of heartbreakers in two competitive games against Wheeler County. 

The Lady Irish came up just short in a 42-40 loss. The Dublin boys were outrun deep in the second half as the Bulldogs made most of their abundant free throws to take the victory, 67-59. 

Keasia Jackson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double to lead the Dublin girls, who were strong inside with 32 rebounds that helped grind out a seven-point advantage by halftime. 

Wheeler County connected on some key shots down the stretch of the second half, knocking down five 3-pointers that were key in closing the gap and pulling into the late lead. Nikita James had two of them, on her way to the team’s high of 25 points. 

Khalil Maddox and Rainna Wyatt led the rest of Dublin’s scorers with six points each. 

Chris Dixon and Glen Harris both scored in the 20s for the Irish boys, though foul trouble piled up late in the game. More significant than the fifth that knocked out both Kam Stanley and Thomas page late in the game was the total that put Wheeler County at the line for 38 foul shots. 

The Bulldogs made most of them – Dublin, limited to 12, converted seven – for a big part of the second-half difference. 

Dixon and Harris helped lead an 8-of-20 shooting performance from deep, though key buckets from inside the arc were a bit sparse when the Irish needed them late and Wheeler County pulled away. 

Dublin’s teams go back to work Saturday against Wilkinson County, then return to region play at home against Northeast Macon Tuesday.