The DeKalb County High School basketball teams had some exciting games last week, including their first home games of the season, taking on tough Cannon County teams. The gym was packed as locals came out to see the Tigers and, for one night, the Tigerettes, play their home court. The girls would have a close game, but the boys would go into double overtime keeping fans on edge.

On Tuesday, November 23, the Lady Tigers became the Tigerettes as they donned throwback uniforms for their first home game of the season. The girls would face the Lionettes in what would be at times a close game.

The Tigerettes jumped out early, scoring 21 points in the first period. Ella Van Vranken came away with a three-point basket, a two-pointer, and four free throw points, while Natalie Snipes and Dare Collins each had a three-point shot. Kadee Ferrell had a pair of two-pointers and a couple of free throws. The Lionettes were held to just 12 points.

DeKalb kept things moving in the second period, with Ferrell getting four two-pointers and a free throw, while Collins added a couple of two-point shots. Van Vranken had a three-pointer, and Xharia Lyons had a two-pointer. Cannon ended the period with 14 points, giving the Tigerettes the 39-26 lead at the half.

Ferrell continued to tear up the court in the third period, sinking a three-point basket and a pair of two-pointers. Snipes came away with a couple of three-point shots, while Van Vranken had a three-pointer of her own. The Lionettes matched DeKalb point for point, also coming away with 16. DeKalb held a 55-42 lead.

The Tigerettes poured it on in the fourth period, adding 23 points to the board. Ferrell had four two-point shots and four free throws, while Van Vranken added five free throw points. Snipes sank a three-pointer, Lyons a two-pointer, and Madison Martin added a free throw point.

The Lionettes would not go away however, and kept fans on the edge of their seats late in the fourth. They would pull to within four from DeKalb’s lead at one point, but the Tigerettes would pull away and hold them off to take the 78-60 victory.

Kadee Ferrell scored 34 points in the game, while Ella Van Vranken had 20. Natalie Snipes came away with 12, Dare Collins seven, Xharia Lyons four, and Madison Martin with one.

In the boys’ game, the Tigers jumped out with 17 points in the first period. Conner Close and Jordan Young each had a two and three-point basket, while Elishah Ramos had a three-pointer, and Stetson Agee and Brayden Antoniak each had a two-pointer. The Lions were held to 10 points.

Close kept things going for the Tigers in the second period, scoring four two-pointers and four free throw points. Robert Wheeler got on the board with three two-point shots, while Agee added a two-pointer of his own. Cannon was held to 17, giving DeKalb the 37-27 halftime lead.

The Lions opened up the half by cutting a significant chunk out of the Tigers’ lead. DeKalb scored 13 with Young getting a two-pointer, a three-pointer, and a free throw, while Ramos had a three-point basket. Close and Wheeler each had a two-pointer. Cannon added 21 points, with DeKalb hanging on to a 50-48 lead.

Ramos put up a pair of two-point shots for the Tigers in the fourth, while Agee had a three-point shot, and Antoniak a two-pointer. But Cannon had other ideas. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as the Lions kept up with DeKalb and cut their lead. The period would end with the score tied at 59.

As the game began overtime, Close came away with a pair of two-point baskets, with Ramos and Wheeler each adding a two-pointer. Antoniak put up a free throw shot. But once again the Lions were right with them. Cannon would come away with nine points of their own, once again tying the score at 68.

Going into the second overtime period, Wheeler came up big sinking three two-point baskets, with Agee adding a three-point shot. Ramos would add a two-pointer. Cannon would be held to nine points giving the Tigers the well-deserved 79-77 overtime victory.

Conner Close scored 23 points in the game, with Wheeler getting 16. Ramos had 14, Jordan Young 11, Stetson Agee 10, and Brayden Antoniak had five points.

The following Friday the teams would not be as fortunate, as they traveled to Warren County and were handed their first losses of the season.

In the girls’ game the Lady Tigers would keep things close until the second half, when the Lady Pioneers would pull away.

DeKalb scored eight points in the first period, with Ella Van Vranken coming away with a three-point basket and a two-pointer, while Avery Agee added a couple of free throw points, and Kadee Ferrell added one. Warren put 13 points on the board.

The Lady Tigers came on strong in the second period, with Agee sinking a pair of three-pointers, while Ferrell had a couple of two-point shots and a free throw. Dare Collins also had a two-pointer. The Lady Pioneers were held to 11 points, but still held a 24-21 lead.

Agee added a three-pointer for the Lady Tigers in the third period, while Madison Martin had a two-point basket. Unfortunately that would be the only points for DeKalb. Warren tacked on 17 points and commanded a 41-26 lead.

Ferrell had a three-pointer and a free throw in the fourth period, while Collins had a two-pointer and a free throw. Van Vranken also had a pair of free throw points. But the Lady Pioneers’ lead was too much to overcome. Warren added 11 points to the board and took the 52-35 victory.

Agee scored 11 points in the game, while Ferrell had 10. Van Vranken had seven points, Collins five, and Martin two.

The boys’ had nearly the same story, keeping things close, then letting the Pioneers pull away.

The Tigers held the lead after the first period, scoring 18 points. Conner Close had a two-pointer and three free throws, while Stetson Agee had a two-pointer and two free throws. Jordan Young sank a three-pointer, while Elishah Ramos, Brayden Antoniak, and Robert Wheeler each had a two-pointer. The Pioneers were held to 15 points.

Young had a pair of three-pointers in the second period, while Close added a couple of two-pointers and a free throw. Antoniak had a two-pointer, while Isaac Knowles had one free throw and Zack Birmingham had two. The Pioneers opened up the flood gates and put 25 points on the board, taking a 40-34 lead at the half.

DeKalb came out swinging in the third period, scoring 19 points. Agee had a pair of two-pointers and a couple of free throws, while Close had a three-point shot and a couple of free throws. Young sank a three-pointer and a two-pointer, while Antoniak had a two-point shot and a free throw. But the Pioneers matched DeKalb point for point, holding a 59-53 lead.

The Tigers fought hard in the fourth, scoring 11 points. Knowles had a pair of two-pointers, while Close had four points off of free throws. Antoniak had a two-pointer, while Young added a free throw. It would not be enough. The Pioneers came away with 20 points and the 79-64 win.

Close had 19 points in the game, with Young getting 15. Agee had 10 points, Antoniak nine, Knowles five, and Wheeler, Ramos, and Birmingham each had two.

DeKalb next travels to Watertown this Friday to take on the Purple Tigers in another border rival game.