With the football season over, fans have turned to the comforts of the indoor gymnasiums and the start of basketball season. The DeKalb Middle School Saints started their season last week, getting a win at home, then falling in their first road game.

On Nov. 3, the Saints opened their season with a home game against Sparta, and the first period would be evenly matched. Each team came away with seven points, with DeKalb’s Tanner Poss getting a pair of two-point baskets, and Colter Norris getting a three-point shot.

DeKalb pulled away in the second period, outscoring Sparta 15-4. Poss had a two and three-pointer, while Norris and Michael Elswick each had a pair of two-point baskets. Andrew Fuson also scored with a two-pointer of his own. DMS took the lead at halftime, 22-11.

The game would get a little closer in the third, with Sparta getting 10 points to DeKalb’s six. Nathan Atkins had a pair of two-pointers, while Brayden Hart had one. DeKalb’s lead narrowed, 28-21.

The Saints stepped up in the fourth period, taking 13 points and holding Sparta to only seven. Poss had a two and three-pointer, while Norris, Logan Cornelius, and Elswick each had two-point baskets.

Norris and Cornelius were each one for two on free throws, while Atkins was zero for three. Elswick was zero for two, while Fuson was zero for one. The Saints took the 41-28 win.

On Nov. 6, the Saints were on the road for their first away game of the season, taking on Prescott Middle School in Cookeville. The team would look good in the first period, but the game would get away from them in the second.

The Saints finished the first period with a 10-4 lead over Prescott, including a pair of two-pointers by Atkins, and two-point baskets by Poss and Elswick.

But, things were not so good in the second period, with Prescott outscoring DeKalb 16-2. Atkins would get the only two points for DMS in the period, and the Saints’ lead fell away, 20-12.

The Saints kept pace with Prescott in the third, with each team getting nine points. Poss and Elswick each had a two-pointer in the period, with all other points coming from free throws.

DMS outscored Prescott in the fourth period, but it was too little, too late. Poss had a two and three-pointer, while Norris had a three-point basket of his own. Cornelius also had a two-point shot. DMS scored 13 points to Presscott’s 12, but it was not enough. DeKalb fell, 41-34.

Poss was seven for 12 from the foul line, while Elswick was two for two. Cornelius was one for one, and Norris was zero for one.