The DCHS Tigers basketball team were back on their home court last week, playing a nail-biter early in the week, then taking a victory against Cumberland County the following Friday.

On Tuesday, January 10, the boys were in their home gym where the hometown crowd watched DeKalb face off against the Purple Tigers of Watertown. It would be an edge of the seat game through most of play.

The Tigers came away with 13 points in the first period, with Conner Close leading the way with a pair of two-point shots, a three-pointer, and a couple of free throws. Elishah Ramos added a two-point basket, while Stetson Agee had a couple of free throw points. Watertown came away with 17 points.

DeKalb would surge ahead in the second period, scoring 21 points. Clos had a couple of three-point shots and a two-pointer, while Robert Wheeler got on the board with a pair of two-pointers and a couple of free throws. Ramos put up three two-point baskets and one free throw. Watertown was held to 13 points, giving DeKalb the 34-30 halftime lead.

The game tightened up in the third period. DeKalb scored 14 with Ramos hitting three-two-pointers, Wheler two two-pointers, and Zack Birmingham and Close each with one two-pointer. The Purple Tigers put 18 on the board, tying the game at 48.

It came down to the fourth period. DeKalb scored 16 with three two-point shots by Ramos, a pair of three-pointers by Agee and a two-pointer by Close. Birmingham and Wheeler each had a free throw point. Watertown would come away with 20 points and take the hard-fought 68-64 win.

Close and Ramos were the top Tigers in the game, each with 21 points, while Wheeler had 11. Agee had eight, while Birmingham came away with three.

The following Friday night the results would be more decisive as DeKalb took on the Jets of Cumberland County. The game would start out slow for the Tigers, but they would gradually claw their way back.

The Tigers scored eight points in the first period, with Ramos putting three two-point baskets on the board, while Close had one. The Jets would come out on fire with 17 points.

Close got rolling for the Tigers in the second, scoring four two-point shots and a couple of free throws, while Ramos added a two-point basket and a free throw. The Jets were held to eight points, but they still claimed a 25-21 lead at halftime.

DeKalb continued to chip away at the Jets lead in the third, scoring 16 points. Robert Wheeler got on the board with three two-point baskets and a couple of free throws, while Agee and Ramos each had a three-point shot. Alex Antoniak sank a two-pointer. Cumberland was held to 14 points, but still held a narrow 38-37 lead.

As the fourth period began, the Tigers caught fire. Ramos put up a two-pointer, a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Wheeler added a couple of two-point shots and a pair of free throws. Close sank a two-point shot and four free throws, while Agee added five free throw points. Ean Jones got on the board with one free throw point. The Jets were held to just 10 points, giving DeKalb the 62-48 victory.

Ramos came away with 19 points in the game, followed by Close who had 18. Wheeler had 14 points, Agee eight, Antoniak two, and Jones had one point.