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DCHS Battles at Home
Allie Melton
Allie Melton drives in for a play against Cumberland County in front of the hometown crowd.

The DeKalb County High School basketball teams hosted Cumberland County at home early in the week last week, then traveled to Baxter to take on Upperman on Friday. The boys would have a good night in front of the hometown crowd, but both teams would fall on the road.

On Tuesday, January 9, DeKalb welcomed the Jets and Lady Jets of Cumberland County. In the girls’ game, the Lady Tigers fell behind early and would never catch up.

Ella VanVranken scored the only points for the Lady Tigers in the first period on three-point basket and a free throw. The Lady Jets would jump out with nine points.

The Lady Tigers put 10 on the board in the second, with Avery Agee hitting a three-pointer and three free throw points, Tess Barton a two-pointer, and Ella VanVranken a pair of free throws. The Lady Jets flew by with 15 points and the 24-14 lead at the half.

Agee sank a pair of three-point shots in the third, while Ella VanVranken and Barton each had a two-pointer. Cam Branin got on the board with a couple of free throws. Cumberland added 19 to their score, going up 43-26.

Ella VanVranken scored on a pair of two-point shots, a three-pointer, and a couple of free throws in the fourth, while sister Chloe VanVranken sank a three-pointer. Allie Melton added a two-point shot, and Branin had two more free throws. Cumberland was held to 11, but it was enough for the 54-42 win.

The Tigers would have a much closer game and end up coming out on top in overtime.

DeKalb put 13 points on the board in the first period. Jon Hendrix had a pair of three-point baskets, while Conner Close had a two-pointer and three free throws, Alex Antoniak got on the board with a two-point shot. The Jets stayed right with them scoring 14 points.

The Tigers added 16 to the board in the second, with Close sinking three two-pointers and five free throws, while Hendrix hit a three-point shot, and Kaleb Spears a two-pointer. Cumberland was held to seven, giving the Tigers the 29-21 halftime lead.

Dallas Kirby scored on a pair of two-pointers and a free throw for the Tigers in the third, while Close added a two-point shot and a couple of free throws. Hendrix had a three-pointer, and Seth Fuson a two-pointer. The Jets inched closer with 17 points. DeKalb was up 43-38.

The Tigers put 15 on the board in the fourth, with Close sinking five two-pointers and a couple of free throws, while Hendrix added two free throws, and Ian Colwell had one. The Jets scored 20, tying the game at 58.

In overtime, Fuson and Hendrix each had a three-point basket, Kirby had a pair of two-pointers and a free throw, and Close three free throw points. The Jets were held to four, giving the Tigers the 72-62 victory.

The following Friday, the teams were on the road, traveling to Baxter to face off against Upperman. It would be a battle for both teams.

In the Lady Tigers game, DeKalb scored six in the first period. Ella VanVranken hit a three-point shot and a free throw, while sister Chloe had a two-point basket. The Lady Bees scored five points.

Chloe VanVranken and Avery Agee each had a two-point shot in the second, but the Lady Tigers gave up 15 to the Lady Bees. At halftime, Upperman was up 20-10.

The Lady Tigers scored 12 in the third, with Agee hitting a pair of three-point shots, Ella VanVranken a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, and Tess Barton with a free throw point. Upperman was held to 10, but were still up 30-22.

Ella VanVranken would be the only Lady Tiger to score in the fourth. She came away with a two-point basket and four free throw points. Upperman would end the game with 11 points, and the 41-28 win.

In the boys’ game Upperman would take the 7-5 lead in the first period, but the Tigers would go up 18-15 in the second. The Bees would take the 33-32 lead in the third period, then go on to zoom past with a 58-46 win. Conner Close scored 18, Jon Hendrix and Seth Fuson each with eight, Dallas Kirby four, Kaleb Spears and Ian Colwell each with three and Alex Antoniak two.

The Tigers are now 10-10 on the season and 1-2 in the district. The Lady Tigers drop to 9-11 overall and 0-3 in district play.The DeKalb County High School basketball teams hosted Cumberland County at home early in the week last week, then traveled to Baxter to take on Upperman on Friday. The boys would have a good night in front of the hometown crowd, but both teams would fall on the road.

On Tuesday, January 9, DeKalb welcomed the Jets and Lady Jets of Cumberland County. In the girls’ game, the Lady Tigers fell behind early and would never catch up.

Ella VanVranken scored the only points for the Lady Tigers in the first period on three-point basket and a free throw. The Lady Jets would jump out with nine points.

The Lady Tigers put 10 on the board in the second, with Avery Agee hitting a three-pointer and three free throw points, Tess Barton a two-pointer, and Ella VanVranken a pair of free throws. The Lady Jets flew by with 15 points and the 24-14 lead at the half.

Agee sank a pair of three-point shots in the third, while Ella VanVranken and Barton each had a two-pointer. Cam Branin got on the board with a couple of free throws. Cumberland added 19 to their score, going up 43-26.

Ella VanVranken scored on a pair of two-point shots, a three-pointer, and a couple of free throws in the fourth, while sister Chloe VanVranken sank a three-pointer. Allie Melton added a two-point shot, and Branin had two more free throws. Cumberland was held to 11, but it was enough for the 54-42 win.

The Tigers would have a much closer game and end up coming out on top in overtime.

DeKalb put 13 points on the board in the first period. Jon Hendrix had a pair of three-point baskets, while Conner Close had a two-pointer and three free throws, Alex Antoniak got on the board with a two-point shot. The Jets stayed right with them scoring 14 points.

The Tigers added 16 to the board in the second, with Close sinking three two-pointers and five free throws, while Hendrix hit a three-point shot, and Kaleb Spears a two-pointer. Cumberland was held to seven, giving the Tigers the 29-21 halftime lead.

Dallas Kirby scored on a pair of two-pointers and a free throw for the Tigers in the third, while Close added a two-point shot and a couple of free throws. Hendrix had a three-pointer, and Seth Fuson a two-pointer. The Jets inched closer with 17 points. DeKalb was up 43-38.

The Tigers put 15 on the board in the fourth, with Close sinking five two-pointers and a couple of free throws, while Hendrix added two free throws, and Ian Colwell had one. The Jets scored 20, tying the game at 58.

In overtime, Fuson and Hendrix each had a three-point basket, Kirby had a pair of two-pointers and a free throw, and Close three free throw points. The Jets were held to four, giving the Tigers the 72-62 victory.

The following Friday, the teams were on the road, traveling to Baxter to face off against Upperman. It would be a battle for both teams.

In the Lady Tigers game, DeKalb scored six in the first period. Ella VanVranken hit a three-point shot and a free throw, while sister Chloe had a two-point basket. The Lady Bees scored five points.

Chloe VanVranken and Avery Agee each had a two-point shot in the second, but the Lady Tigers gave up 15 to the Lady Bees. At halftime, Upperman was up 20-10.

The Lady Tigers scored 12 in the third, with Agee hitting a pair of three-point shots, Ella VanVranken a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, and Tess Barton with a free throw point. Upperman was held to 10, but were still up 30-22.

Ella VanVranken would be the only Lady Tiger to score in the fourth. She came away with a two-point basket and four free throw points. Upperman would end the game with 11 points, and the 41-28 win.

In the boys’ game Upperman would take the 7-5 lead in the first period, but the Tigers would go up 18-15 in the second. The Bees would take the 33-32 lead in the third period, then go on to zoom past with a 58-46 win. Conner Close scored 18, Jon Hendrix and Seth Fuson each with eight, Dallas Kirby four, Kaleb Spears and Ian Colwell each with three and Alex Antoniak two.

The Tigers are now 10-10 on the season and 1-2 in the district. The Lady Tigers drop to 9-11 overall and 0-3 in district play.