The DeKalb County High School Lady Tigers basketball team kicked off their season with a slate of Hall of Fame games last week, hosting Wilson Central before going on the road for a couple of weekend games in Gordonsville.
On Tuesday, November 14, the hometown crowd was on hand as the Lady Tigers hosted a tough Wilson Central team. The ladies jumped out with a big lead early in the game, but the speed of Wilson Central proved too much for DeKalb in the end.
The Lady Tigers scored 20 points in the first period, with Ella VanVranken sinking three two-point baskets, a three-pointer, and a pair of free throws, while the three-point queen Avery Agee hit three three-pointers. Wilson Central kept pace scoring 15 points.
DeKalb came away with 14 points in the second, with VanVranken another couple of two-point shots and a pair of free throws, while Agee added a three and two-point shot. Tess Barton came away with a couple of two-point layups and a free throw, while Chloe VanVranken hit a two-pointer of her own. Wilson Central stayed close with 10 points, but the Lady Tigers held a 34-25 lead at the half.
Agee sank a three and a two-point basket for the Lady Tigers in the third, while Barton added another pair of two-pointers. Ella VanVranken made a pair of two-point shots and a couple of free throws, while her sister Chloe added a couple of free-throw points. Wilson came away with 18 points, giving DeKalb the 51-43 lead.
It came down to the fourth period, where DeKalb would come away with 10 more points. Cam Branin and Agee each had a three-pointer, while Chloe VanVranken and Allie Melton each had a two-pointer. Wilson got fired up with 23 points, taking the 66-61 late game win.
Things would get better for DeKalb on Saturday as they continued Hall of Fame play in Gordonsville. Their first game would see the Lady Tigers take on Liberty Creek. DeKalb would jump out with a big lead and never look back.
The Lady Tigers scored 12 points in the first period, with Ella VanVranken hitting a pair of two-point shots and a couple of free throws, while Chloe VanVranken, Barton, and Lillie Young each had a two-point basket. Liberty Creek was held to just four points.
DeKalb pressed on in the second period, scoring 15 more points. Ella hit a two-pointer and a couple of three-pointers, while Melton also added a three-point shot. Agee had four free throw baskets. Liberty creek got rolling with 16 points, but the Lady Tigers held a 27-20 halftime lead.
The Lady Tigers came out fired up after the half, scoring 22 points. Chloe VanVranken hit a couple of two-pointers, a three-point shot, and a free throw, while sister Ella came away with a pair of two-pointers and a three-point basket. Barton added a pair of two-point shots, while Agee had one. Young added a free throw point. Liberty Creek was held to just five, giving DeKalb the 49-25 lead.
Hannah Brown got on the board for the Lady Tigers in the fourth with a three-pointer and a free throw, while Ella and Chloe each had a two-pointer. Liberty Creek managed 11 points, but DeKalb claimed the 57-36 victory.
Later that evening, the girls took on the host team, Gordonsville, in what would turn out to be another good win for DeKalb.
The Lady Tigers put 16 points on the board in the first period with Ella hitting three two-pointers and a three-pointer, while Chloe sank a pair of two-point shots and a free throw. Agee also had a two-point basket. Gordonsville scored 11.
Ella sank four two-point shots and a free throw for the Lady Tigers in the second period, while Chloe had a pair of two-point baskets. Barton also had a two-point layup. Again, Gordonsville was held to 11, giving DeKalb the 31-22 lead at the half.
DeKalb kept pushing ahead in the third period, scoring 19 points. Barton added three two-pointers, while Agee had two. Ella had a three-point basket and a couple of free-throw points, while Melton had a three-pointer of her own. Chloe also added a free-throw shot. Once more, Gordonsville put 11 on the board, giving the Lady Tigers the 50-33 lead.
Chloe VanVranken hit on a pair of two-pointers for the Lady Tigers in the fourth while Bella Rackley, Ella VanVranken, and Agee each had one. Gordonville managed 12 points, but it was far from enough. The Lady Tigers claimed the 60-45 win.
