The DeKalb County High School Tigers and Lady Tigers were at home last week as they faced district opponents from Upperman. While the girls came away with their second win in as many years over the Lady Bees, the boys had a much tougher game.
On Dec. 3, the Lady Tigers took to the court to take on their first district game against the Lady Bees. Right from the beginning it was obvious that the game would be a battle between two powers in 8-AA.
The Lady Tigers scored early, getting 11 points in the first period. Paige Winningham and McKenzie Poteete each scored four points in the quarter, while Loren Cripps came away with three points. Upperman kept the game close however, scoring 12 points of their own and taking the lead.
The second period was a mirror image of the first. DeKalb scored 12 points, while Upperman tied the game with 11 points. Winningham scored seven points in the quarter, while Poteete came away with three. Jailyn Bolding had three points in the second. The game was tied at the half, 23-23.
Things stayed close through the fourth quarter with the Lady Tigers getting 12 points. Winningham had four points, Cripps and Poteete each had three, and Bolding came away with two. Again Upperman would not lay down, getting 13 points and staying one point ahead of DeKalb. The Lady Bees were up at the beginning of the fourth period, 36-35.
The game would be decided by only two points in the fourth. DeKalb scored 13, with Cripps getting five points, Winningham four, Bolding one, and Ashli Chew getting three points. Upperman could only get 10 points in the period, and the Lady Tigers would come away with the 48-46 victory.
Head Coach Joe Pat Cope told the Review this was a big game for the Lady Tigers. "This is only the second time we’ve beaten Upperman since they’ve been in our district. It was a huge win, and we’ve beaten them twice in as many years."
Coach Cope said that beating the previously unbeaten Lady Bees was a big feat for his team, "This is the first time in many years we’ve been 1-0 in the district and 11-1 overall. I think Cannon County is still the team to beat this year, but anytime you beat a team like Upperman, that’s definitely a stepping stone for our program."
While the girls came away with a big victory that night, it was a much tougher game for the Tigers.
The Tigers fell behind in the first period and would never take the lead throughout the game. DeKalb scored 10 points in the first, with Ethan Roller getting two three-pointers, while Kaleb Ferrell and Justin Bone each had a two-pointer. Upperman came away with 18 points in the period.
The Tigers had 12 points in the second quarter. Aaron Patterson had a three and a two-pointer, while Roller, Ferrell, and Bone each had a two-point shot. Upperman increased their lead by scoring 14 points in the period, and taking a 37-22 halftime score.
The Tigers scored even more in the third quarter, coming away with 18 points. Austin Frazier and Patterson each had a two and three-pointer, while Roller and Bone each had two two-pointers. Upperman put up big points as well, scoring 22 in the third and increasing their lead, 59-40.
DeKalb again made the hoops in the fourth period, but it would not be enough. The Tigers came away with 16 points with Roller getting two two-pointers and a three-point shot, and Aaron Haggard getting a three-pointer. Frazier and Bone each had a two-pointer in the period. Upperman scored 24 points to nail the casket shut. The Bees took a 83-56 win over the Tigers.
Steven Jennings went three for four on free throws during the game.
While road games against district opponent Smith County were scheduled for last Friday, the game was cancelled due to icy road conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Jan. 4. The Tigers and Lady Tigers face Cannon County at home this Friday starting at 6:00 p.m.