Sunday morning was for Bengay and ice packs but Saturday night was for fun and re-living the glory days as several basketball players and cheerleaders returned to the hardwood at DeKalb County High Saturday evening for the school’s inaugural alumni game.

“They asked me if I could still do a toe tap,” said one member of the alumni cheerleading team, explaining that’s where cheerleaders jump and touch the toes on their outstretched legs in midair. “They must be crazy. I can’t even touch my toes anymore.”

The games involved former members of the Tigers and Lady Tigers, carved up into two teams, cheered on by former cheer squad members. The games were refereed and coached by alumni.

In the opening game, it was the ladies who took to the floor, playing without a net as neither team had enough players for a second string.

Rachel Evans, Class of 1996 pointed out that she was the oldest player in the game at the age of 40.

“I haven’t played in like three years,” Evans admitted as she looked down the empty bench. “And we ain’t got substitutes.”

Amy S. Tobitt from the Class of 1999 said she got winded during the first quarter but that didn’t matter. “It’s all in good fun,” she said.

Kelly Parkerson Pyburn, in her day job, coaches the West Bulldogs. The former Lady Tiger who went on to play college ball at Southern Miss said she wanted to walk the walk like she talks the talk to her players during the week.

“I’m trying to do everything I tell the kids to do,” she said, noting some of her players were in the audience.

As for the game itself, the final score was 49-29. For the winners, Jailyn Bolding led the way with 16 followed by Casey B. Agee with 12 and Martha W. Hooper with 10. Stephanie Hart added nine and Amy S. Tobitt had two. Coming in second in the women’s alumni game, Jennifer T. Sykes led her team with 11 followed by Kelly P. Pyburn with seven and Lauren Adcock with six. Rachel Evans had four and Morgan P. Atnip had two.

The men’s game had no shortage of players as both benches were full, most of the alumni appearing as though they still played on a semi-regular basis. The game proved to be very competitive with the black jersey squad coming from behind to land a 91-86 win in the high scoring affair.

It looked to be a blow out early as Seth Willoughby rained down two opening threes for the white jersey team. Recent 2018 graduate Marshal Evins followed suit with three triples in the first quarter as the white outraced the black to a 32-17 lead at the end of one. With Evans and Willoughby out for breathers in the second, the entire white roster scored in the second, giving them a comfortable 48-32 lead at half.

However, the second half was all about Aaron Patterson as he willed his team back from a 13-point deficit going into the fourth. Patterson had 15 points in the final quarter as he led all scorers on the night with 30.

Contributing in the win for the black team was Ethan Roller with 21, Soni Fulliove with 11, Josh Agee with nine, Zach Vincent with six, Justin Brooks with four, Austin Johnson and Abram Edwards with three and Nicholas Underhill with two. Point guard Jacob Melton had no points but dished out numerous assists in the win.

For the second place white team, Trey Jones led the way with 14 followed by Chandler Vincent with 12, Marshal Evins with 11 and Justin Bone with 10. Lucas Phillips, Jacob Rankhorn and Seth Willoughby had eight, Kaleb Ferrell six, Joey Agee four, Tim Edwards three and Nick Bond 2.

Returning to cheer for the game were cheerleaders Dama Hendrixson, January Zaderiko, Jennifer Winchester Agee, Amanda Davis, Jasmine Dimas, Hannah Evans, Kelsey Hale, Sheila Whitford Kirby, Ashlee Whitehead Rankhorn, Chana Shehane Roller, Allison Rogers, Christian Atnip Underhill and Olivia Winter. The squad was coached by Mandy Pack Dakas.

Officials for the game were Danielle Judkins Collins, Kim McCoy Frazier, Kerry Davis, Jeremy Haas and Shaun Tubbs. Eric Colwell Poss did stats.

Coaches were Coby Bates, Alex Hall, Ryan Todd and Will Frazier.