If it wasn’t for bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. After leading most of the game and then mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter, the Tigers fell in overtime to Livingston Academy this past week in a high scoring 80-78 affair, leaving them at 3-18 near the bottom of the district.

It was a game the Tigers controlled for most of the way as the up-and-down pace left them with a 17-12 advantage after one with Tanner Poss leading the way and his team with 23 points on the night. The visitors were able to narrow the margin a bit with a late run in the second quarter as the Tigers clung to a 34-32 lead going into the locker room at half thanks to another hot shooting night by Nathan Atkins who put in 20.

Both offenses ramped up in the third with the visiting Wildcats erasing the Tiger lead and replacing it with a five point lead of their own in the nip and tuck battle. However, thanks to Dallas Cook, who had 14 on the night, DeKalb was able to rebound and held a 56-52 lead going into the final frame.

The fourth saw a see-saw battle with lead changes abounding with nothing proven by the fourth quarter horn as the teams ended up deadlocked at 74 at the end of regulation. DaKota White with 13 and Colter Norris with eight, contributed to pushing the game to overtime.

The overtime period proved to be a different game as the offenses slowed down after the Wildcats grabbed the lead. Down two with under 20 second left on the clock, the Tigers held for one last shot, to either lose, tie or win. However, that shot never came as the ball was lost out of bounds with under two second on the clock, the miscue denying the Tigers a chance at a buzzer beater.

While losing in overtime, the Tiger performance on its home hardwood was much better than when the teams first met in December. Livingston won that battle 83-56.

The Tigers are 2-7 in the district, tied with Cannon County for next to last. Both teams are two games up on Smith County which has no district wins.