

The Thanksgiving holiday didn’t slow down the DeKalb County High School Lady Tigers basketball team’s season with the girls going on the road to claim a tough win, then falling on their home court last Friday night. Both games were against powerhouse teams.
On Tuesday, November 22, the ladies traveled to Woodbury where they would face off with a tough Cannon County team. The girls would fall behind in the first period, then claw their way back for a catfight for the rest of the game.
The Lady Tigers only scored four points in the first period, with a two-pointer and a free throw by Ella VanVranken and a free-throw point by Madison Martin. The Lionettes would jump out with nine points and the early lead.
DeKalb caught fire in the second period, putting 21 points on the board. Ella VanVranken came away with a two and three-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Dare Collins sank a couple of three-point shots. Avery Agee added a three-point basket and a free throw, while Chloe VanVranken and Martin each had a two-pointer. Cannon was held to just 13 points giving the Lady Tigers a 25-22 lead at halftime.
The game remained tight in the third period with the Lady Tigers adding 13 points to the board. Agee had a three-point shot, while Cadee Griffith, Ella VanVranken, and Collins each had a two-pointer. Chloe VanVranken and Tess Barton each had a pair of free-throw points. The Lionettes claimed 15 points, with DeKalb holding on to a narrow 38-37 lead.
It all came down to the fourth period. The Lady Tigers would put 18 points on the board with Ella VanVranken adding a couple of two-point baskets and a pair of free throws, while Agee sank five free-throw shots. Barton had a two and three-point basket, while Martin hit a two-point shot. Cannon County would fight hard, but be held to 16 points, giving DeKalb the 56-53 victory.
Ella VanVranken was the top scorer for DeKalb with 18 points, while Agee put up 12. Collin claimed eight points, Barton had seven, Martin five, Chloe VanVranken four, and Griffith had two.
It would be a much tougher outcome the following Friday as the Lady Tigers hosted the Lady Pioneers of Warren County. DeKalb would fall behind early and never be able to catch up.
The Lady Tigers scored 11 points in the first period, with a big effort by Ella VanVranken. She scored on two three-pointers and a pair of two-point baskets. Her sister Chloe would also get on the board with a free-throw point. Warren jumped out big with 21 points and the lead.
DeKalb nearly matched the Lady Pioneers point for point in the second period. Once again Ella VanVranken was top with a three-point basket and four free-throw points, while Cadee Griffith had a two-pointer and a couple of free throws. Chloe VanVranken, Madison Martin and Dare Collins each came away with a two-point basket. The lady Pioneers were held to 16 points, but increased their lead to 37-28.
The second half was nearly a repeat of the first for the Lady Tigers. They would be outscored in the third period, but maintain in the fourth. DeKalb scored 11 points in the third, with Ella VanVranken hitting a couple of two-point shots and a three-pointer, while Tess Barton added a pair of two-point baskets. Warren County blasted ahead with 23 points and the 60-39 lead.
Martin sank a couple of two-pointers and a three-point shot for the Lady Tigers in the fourth, while Ella VanVranken hit a three-pointer and two-point basket. Collins had a two-pointer. The Lady Pioneers were held to 18, but they claimed the 78-53 win.
Once again, Ella VanVranken was the top scorer for the Lady Tigers, coming away with 29 points in the game. Martin had nine points, Collins, Barton, and Griffith each had four, and Chloe VanVranken had three.