The DeKalb County Tigers are locked in sixth place as they go into their final week of regular season play, taking a pair of losses this past week, first a 75-43 loss to Cannon County before going blown out for a second time by the Upperman Bees, 75-43.

The Tigers had already been bit by the Lions in Smithville earlier this year, 61-53 and had hoped to avenge that loss which came in a game DeKalb ruled for most of the night. However, the Tigers never got it going as they found themselves down 14-2 after one as they were able to sink only one basket. Things didn’t get much better as they still didn’t break double digits by halftime, trailing 27-7 going into the locker room.

The Tigers woke up in the third and tried to make a game of it, drawing up to the 51-26 disadvantage. But, the early damage was too much as they were unable to draw closer. None of the Tigers roster was able to break double digits as only Evans Jones came close with eight and Nathaniel Cook with six.

The Tigers actually had a better showing against Upperman Friday night, as team that drilled them 90-33 in their earlier meeting.

The Tigers trailed just 8-7 to the Bees after one and 33-18 after two. However, the top-ranked Upperman boys were able to enforce their will on the Tigers and took a 55-27 advantage into the final frame. Dallas Cook and Lucas Hale led the Tigers on a night no one cracked double digits again, both getting eight.

With the pair of losses, the Tigers can only ride out the rest of the regular season even though they will be favored in their last two games. Their next opponent, Macon County, is 2-10 and DeKalb already owns a win over them as do they against Smith County who is 1-11 in the district. Upperman is first at 12-0 with York on their heels at 10-2. Livingston Academy is directly ahead of DeKalb at 5-6. DeKalb is 3-9 in the district and 6-19 overall.