The DeKalb County High School Tigers basketball team wrapped up their regular season last week, hosting Cumberland County during Senior Night, then traveling to Baxter later in the week to face the Upperman Bees.
On Tuesday, February 8, the Tigers were on their home court for the last regular season home game, hosting the Cumberland County Jets in a close match. The game would go back and forth throughout, and remain close until the final period.
The Tigers scored 17 in the first period, with Elisha Ramos hitting a three-pointer and a couple of free throws, while Stetson Agee and Jordan Young each had a three-point basket of their own. Nathaniel Crook, Conner Close, and Robert Wheeler each came away with a two-point shot. The Jets opened up with 22 points and the early lead.
Ramos added a couple of three-point baskets and a two-pointer for the Tigers in the second period, while Young sank a pair of three-pointers, and Close had a two and three-point shot. Cumberland was held to 12 points, giving DeKalb a narrow 36-34 halftime lead.
The scoreboard would light up in the third period, with Agee, Young and Close each sinking a three-point shot, while Crook and Wheeler each had a two-pointer. The Jets would come out strong, putting 20 points on the board and retaking the lead, 54-49.
The Tigers were on fire in the fourth period, scoring 22 points. Agee sank a two and three-point basket, while Young had a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. Ramos and Close each had a two-pointer and a couple of free throw points, while Isaac Knowles got on the board with a two-pointer. Wheeler also added a pair of free throw points. The Jets were held to just 12 points, giving DeKalb the 71-66 victory.
Young and Ramos were the top scorers for the Tigers, each with 17, while Close had 14. Agee had 11 points, Wheeler had six, Crook four, and Knowles had two points.
The following Friday the Tigers were on the road, traveling to Upperman to take on the Bees. It would be another nail biter of a game.
DeKalb would fall behind early and find themselves playing catchup the rest of the first half. Afterwards the lead would go back and forth. The Tigers scored 12 points in the first period, with Ramos and Knowles each hitting a two-pointer and a couple of free throws, while Close sank a two-point shot of his own. Young also scored on a pair of free throws. Upperman claimed the early lead with 18 points.
Close got hot for the Tigers in the second period, scoring on two two-pointers, a three-pointer, and a free throw. Agee and Ramos each hit a three-point shot, while Brayden Antoniak added a two-pointer. The Bees were held to just nine points, giving DeKalb the 28-27 lead at the half.
The Tigers came away with nine points in the third period, while the Bees would put 18 on the board. Close hit on a two-pointer and a free throw, while Antoniak had a two-point basket. Ramos added a couple of free throw points. Upperman retook the lead, 45-37.
Close sank a three-pointer and four free throws for the Tigers in the fourth period, while Ramos added a two-point shot and three free throws. The Bees were held to only five points, but it was enough to squeak by for the 50-49 win.
Close scored the most points for the Tigers in the game, with 22 points. Ramos was second with 14 points, while Knowles and Antoniak each had four. Agee had three points, while Young had two.
