It was a week of long road trips for the DeKalb County High School Tigers basketball team. The boys would play a couple of district games, before traveling to Warren County to face their old coach for the second time in the season.

On Tuesday, January 3, the Tigers traveled to Livingston to face off against the Wildcats. The game would be close throughout, but would slip away in the fourth.

The Tigers scored 17 points in the first period, with Jon Hancock, Robert Wheeler, and Elishah Ramos each hitting a three and two-point basket. Conner Close would come away with a two-pointer. Livingston Academy would be held to 16 points, giving DeKalb the narrow lead.

DeKalb put another 17 points on the board in the second period, with Stetson Agee sinking a pair of three-pointers, while Close added a three-point basket as well. Wheeler had a two-pointer and a free throw, while Alex Antoniak and Ean Jones each made a two-point shot. Zack Birmingham got on the board with a free throw point. The Wildcats were held to 14, giving the Tigers the 34-30 halftime lead.

Wheeler scored on four two-point baskets for the Tigers in the third period, while Agee added a three-pointer, and Close a two-pointer. The Wildcats clawed their way back with 18 points, taking the slim 48-47 lead.

The Tigers put another 17 on the board in the fourth. Ramos came away with a three-point basket and a couple of two-pointer, while Close had a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. Birmingham and Antoniak each had a two-point shot, while Agee added a free throw. Unfortunately the Wildcats added 22 to the board, claiming the 70-64 win.

Wheler was the top Tiger in the game, scoring 16, while Agee came away with 15. Ramos and Close each had 12 points, Antoniak four, Birmingham three and Jones two.

The following Friday, the Tigers would be back in district action, this time traveling to Macon County to take on the Tigers. It would be a better outing for the boys.

DeKalb came out on fire scoring 16 points in the first period. Stetson Agee hit a pair of two-pointers and a three-pointer, while Conner Close had a two and three-point basket and a couple of free throws. Elishah Ramos got on the board with a two-point shot. Macon was held to just eight points.

DeKalb would keep up the pressure in the second period, scoring 13 points, but Macon would match point for point. Birmingham and Seth Fuson would each sink a three and two-point basket, while Agee would hit another three-pointer. DeKalb held a 29-21 halftime lead.

The DeKalb Tigers would add big points in the third period, coming away with 17. Ramos sank a three-point basket, a pair of two-pointers, and a couple of free throws, while Close hit on a pair of two-pointers. Agee and Birmingham each had a two-point shot. Macon was held to nine, giving DeKalb the 46-30 lead.

DeKalb would seal the game shut in the fourth with 23 points. Agee sank a two and three-pointer while close had three two-point baskets. Jon Hendrix got on the board with a couple of three-pointers, while Kaleb Spears added a two-pointer. Fuson also added a couple of free throw points. Macon was held to 18, with DeKalb claiming the 69-48 victory.

Both Agee and Close tied for top Tiger in the game, each with 17 points. Ramos had 11, Birmingham and Fuson each had seven, Hendrix had six, and Wheeler and Spears each had two.

The following day, the Tigers were again on the road, this time once again facing their old coach, Danny Fish, and the Warren County Pioneers. The Tigers had claimed the win in their first meeting earlier in the season, and DeKalb held its own through the first half, but once again the game would slip away late.

The Tigers put 17 on the board in the first period, with Conner Close sinking a couple of three-point shots and a two-pointer. Elishah Ramos had a pair of three-pointers and Stetson Agee had one. The Pioneers put 16 on the board.

The battle continued in the second period, with the Tigers putting nine on the board. Close had a pair of two-pointers while Agee had a three-point basket. Birmingham added a couple of free throw points. Warren County came away with 10 points, tying the game at 26 at the half.

After halftime, the Tigers just couldn’t get going. DeKalb would only score four in the third period, with two-pointers by Ramos and Close. The Pioneers would jump ahead with 17 and never look back.

DeKalb got back in rhythm in the fourth, but it was too little too late. The Tigers scored 17 points, with a two a three-point shot by Birmingham, a two-pointer and three free throws by Ramos, and a three-pointer by Jon Hendrix. Wheeler had a two-point shot, while Close had a pair of free throws. The Pioneers came away with 19, and took the 62-47 win.

Close was top of the scoreboard for the Tigers with 16 points, while Ramos had 13. Birmingham had seven points, Agee six, Hendrix three, and Wheeler two.