After falling early in the week to the 9th ranked AA team in the state, the DeKalb County High School Tigers basketball team bounced back with an overtime win, on the road, against a tough district rival, and another win at home.
On Tuesday, January 12, the Tigers were at home where they faced off with the Upperman Bees, a top ranked team in the state. It would be a tough game.
The Tigers would score eight points in the first quarter, with Evan Jones getting a pair of two-point baskets and a couple of free throw points, while Elishah Ramos came away with a two-pointer of his own. The Bees were held to 11 points, but took the early lead.
Several Tigers came away with points in the second quarter, with Conner Close sinking a couple of two-point baskets, while Jones, Jordan Young, Brayden Antoniak, Luke Jenkins, and Stetson Agee each had one two-pointer. Despite DeKalb's 14 points, Upperman added 25 points to the board, taking the 36-22 halftime lead.
Young had a pair of three-point baskets in the third quarter, while Agee had a three-pointer, and Jones had a two-pointer. The Bees continued to pull away with 22 points and a 58-33 lead.
DeKalb could only manage eight points in the fourth quarter, with Close getting a couple of two-point shots and a free throw, while Isaac Brown had one two-pointer and a free throw. Upperman padded their lead with 19 points, taking the 77-41 win.
The following Friday, the Tigers were on the road, traveling to longtime rival Macon County. There, the Tigers would be in a battle that would go back and forth, eventually being settled in overtime.
The Tigers put 15 points on the scoreboard in the first quarter, with Jones getting four two-pointers and a free throw, while Agee added a three-pointer, and Ramos a two-pointer and a free throw. Macon stayed right with them, scoring 16 points.
Agee sank three three-point baskets for the Tigers in the second quarter, while Jones sank three two-point baskets. Close had a pair of two-pointers, and Jenkins had one. Macon was held to 14 points, giving DeKalb a 36-30 lead at the half.
The Tigers kept the pressure going in the third quarter, scoring 12 more points. Jones had a pair of two-point baskets and a free throw, while Agee had a three-pointer. Antoniak and Ramos also each added a two-point shot. Macon was held to 11 points, increasing the Tigers' lead, 48-41.
Young scored a three-pointer for the Tigers in the fourth quarter, while Jones had a two-pointer and a couple of free throws. Antoniak and Ramos also each added a free throw point. DeKalb scored nine points, but Macon wasn't going away. They scored 16 points before the buzzer, tying the score at 57, and forcing overtime.
Jenkins sank a three-point shot for the Tigers in overtime, while Jones added a pair of two-pointers. Macon was held to just five points, giving DeKalb the 64-62 overtime win.
The next day, the Tigers were back on their home court, this time playing a make-up game against Sequatchie County. Once again, the Tigers would come away with a win.
The Tigers scored 14 points in the first quarter, with Jones credited for nine of them. Jones scored four two-point baskets and a free throw, while Agee had a three-pointer, and Jenkins had a two-pointer. Sequatchie came away with six points.
DeKalb kept it up in the second quarter, putting 19 points on the board. Agee had a three-pointer and a couple of two-point baskets, while Jenkins had a three-pointer and a pair of free throw points. Close had a three-point shot as well, while Antoniak had a two-pointer, and Young a pair of free throws. DeKalb kept Sequatchie to only eight points, giving the Tigers a 33-14 lead at the half.
The Tigers scored 16 points in the third quarter, with Young getting a pair of three-pointers, and Agee and Close each getting a three-point shot, and Antoniak and Jenkins each getting a two-point basket. Sequatchie scored 17 points, but DeKalb commanded a 49-31 lead.
Aiden Curtis had a two-pointer and a couple of free throw points for the Tigers in the fourth quarter, while Jones had a two-pointer and one free throw. Ramos and Antoniak each added a two-point shot of their own. Sequatchie put up 20 points, but it was far from enough. DeKalb claimed the 60-51 victory.
