The DeKalb County High School basketball teams were back on their home court last week, once again facing border rival Watertown. Again the Tigers and Lady Tigers were able to handle their purple counterparts, though the boy’s game was a little tougher than their previous meetup.

On Tuesday, January 11, the Lady Tigers started things off as they took on the Purple Lady Tigers. DeKalb would start out slow in the first part of the first period, but would soon get in gear. DeKalb scored eight points to begin the game, with Kadee Ferrell looking as though she is fully recovered from an ankle injury. She scored a pair of two-point baskets and two free throws, while Madison Martin also added a two-pointer. Watertown jumped ahead early, but DeKalb was able to tie the score at eight.

The Lady Tigers caught fire in the second period, with Ella Van Vranken getting on the board with a three-pointer, a couple of two-pointers, and a free throw. Dare Collins sank a pair of three-pointers, while Ferrell added a couple of two-point shots. The Purple Lady Tigers were still in the game, scoring 12 points, though DCHS held a 26-20 halftime lead.

Van Vranken sank another pair of two-pointers for the Lady Tigers in the third period, along with a three-point basket. Ferrell added a couple of two-point shots and a pair of free throws, while Martin hit a three-pointer. Xharia Lyons added two free throw points. Watertown was held to just 10, increasing DeKalb’s lead 44-30.

DeKalb kept pouring on the points in the fourth period, with Avery Agee coming away with a couple of three-point field goals, while Ferrell added a couple of two-point jump shots and a free throw. Martin had a three-pointer as well, while Lyons had a two-point basket. The Purple Lady Tigers were held to 11 points, giving DeKalb the 60-41 victory.

Ferrell scored 21 points in the game, while Van Vranken had 15. Martin had eight, Collins and Agee each had six, and Lyons had four points.

Next, the Tigers would face off against their purple foes, but this meeting would be far from the 70-33 blowout DeKalb handed Watertown in December. At first it looked as if Watertown was in for a long night, but they soon got into the game and kept things close to the end.

The Tigers scored 18 points in the first period, with Elishah Ramos hitting a two and three-point basket, while Stetson Agee had a two-pointer and a couple of free throw points. Conner Close, Nathaniel Crook, and Jordan Parker each sank a three-point shot. The Purple Tigers were held to just five points.

DeKalb was held to just nine points in the second period, with Ramos and Jordan Young each coming away with a three-pointer, while Close added a two-pointer and a free throw. Watertown came to life, scoring 22 points and tying the score at 27 at halftime.

Watertown kept up the pressure in the third period, adding 16 points to the board, while holding DeKalb to just 11. Close and Agee each had a three-pointer for the Tigers, while Isaac Knowles hit a two-pointer and a free throw. Zack Birmingham also had a two-pointer. The Purple Tigers had taken the lead, 43-38.

It looked as if Watertown might have DeKalb on the ropes as the fourth period began, but the Tigers came roaring back. Ramos sank a pair of two-point baskets and five free throws, while Close had a three-pointer, a two-pointer, and a free throw. Young hit a pair of three-pointers, while Agee had one. Robert Wheeler also got on the board with a two-point basket. The Purple Tigers kept things close, but were eventually held to just 14. DeKalb took the 64-57 win.

Ramos scored 17 points in the game, followed by Close who had 15. Agee had 10, Young nine, Knowles, Crook, and Parker each had three, and Wheeler and Birmingham each had two.

On Friday, the teams traveled to Crossville where they would face some tough Cumberland County teams.

In the girls' game, the Lady Tigers would get off to a slow start and would never be able to recover. DeKalb scored 11 points in the first period, Ella Van Vranken sinking a three-pointer and a pair of two-pointers, while Kadee Ferrell and Madison Martin each had a two-point basket. Cumberland came away with 22 points and a big lead.

Avery Agee hit a three-point shot for the Lady Tigers in the second period, while Ferrell, Martin, and Ally Fuller each had a two-pointer. Cumberland added 14 to the board, taking a 36-20 lead at halftime.

It was all Van Vranken for the Lady Tigers in the third, sinking a couple of three-point shots and a two-pointer. Cumberland piled on 16 more points, increasing their lead, 52-28.

The Lady Tigers would only add eight more points to the board in the fourth, with Van Vranken hitting a two-pointer and a couple of free throws, while Xharia Lyons had a two-pointer. Ferrell added a couple of free throw shots. Cumberland was held to seven points, but it was more than enough for the 59-36 win.

Van Vranken scored 19 points in the game, while Ferrell had six. Martin had four, Agee three, and Lyons and Fuller each had two.

In the Tigers' game, DeKalb would jump out with the lead in the first half, but Cumberland would come clawing back in the second.

The Tigers scored 15 points in the first period, with Elishah Ramos sinking three three-point baskets, while Brayden Antoniak had a pair of two-pointers. Isaac Knowles had a two-point shot of his own. Cumberland was held to 11 points.

DeKalb increased their lead in the second, scoring 16 points. Conner Close got into the game with three two-point baskets and a free throw, while Knowles and Brayden Antoniak each had a two-pointer. Ramos added three free throw points, while Stetson Agee had two. Cumberland was held to 15 points, giving the Tigers a 31-26 lead at the half.

Ramos had a two and three-point basket for the Tigers in the third period, while Close, Knowles, and Robert Wheeler each had a two-point shot. Jordan Young added a couple of free throw points. Cumberland scored 20 points, taking the 46-44 lead.

It came down to the fourth period, where each team upped their game. The Tigers scored 26 points with Close coming away with five two-point shots, while Agee had a pair of three-pointers and four free throw points. Knowles had a two-pointer, while Young and Wheeler each had a couple of free throws. Cumberland came away with 30 points and the 76-70 win.

Close had 19 points in the game, with Ramos coming away with 17. Agee had 12, Knowles eight, Brayden Antoniak had six, and Young and Wheeler each had four.