The DCHS Tiger basketball squad got a little pre-season action in last weekend, playing four games in two days as part of the annual Hall of Fame Playday, and winning all four.
DeKalb faced Tullahoma on Friday night in Franklin County, edging by with a 45-43 win. The Tigers scored 12 points in the first period of play while holding their opponent to nine. Marshal Evins put eight points up for DCHS, hitting a three-pointer, a two-pointer and three free throws. Seth Wright added four points on two pointers.
The teams were matched at 13 points each in the second, with Tanner Poss hitting five free throws, Gentry sinking two free throws and a two pointer. Evins and Austin Johnson added two good free throws each for the Tigers, bringing the half-time tally to 25-22 DeKalb.
The third period proved to be a defensive battle, with Tullahoma outpacing the tigers 8-6. Poss and Harpole contributed two two-point shots, while Evins dropped in two more free throws. The final period of the game began with DeKalb ahead by one point in a 31-30 game.
The fourth quarter remained close, with the tigers managing 14 points, and Tullahoma barely trailing with 13 in the period. Poss added 5 of those points with a three-point shot and two free throws. Harpole put four points up, while Wright dropped in three free throws and Evins added a two-pointer to put the Tigers up by two at the buzzer.
Evins led the Tigers on offense, putting in 12 points in the contest, while Poss scored 12. Harpole contributed 10 points, Wright seven, and Johnson two.
The Tigers also met Grundy County Friday night, taking a 52-47 overtime win.
Grundy looked impressive from the opening buzzer, outscoring the Tigers 10-5 in the first period and 10-8 in the second. DeKalb took a 20-13 deficit into half time.
DeKalb exploded in the third period, scoring 17 points while allowing only six, and taking a 32-26 lead. The Tigers gave up 17 points in the fourth and only managed 13, however, and when the buzzer sounded the game was tied 43-up.
The Tigers took advantage of the overtime period, scoring nine points and allowing Grundy to take only four. Evins scored 16 points for DeKalb, while Poss put in 13, Harpole hit the basket for eight, Seth Wright scored seven, Trey Jones put in five points, and Austin Johnson contributed three.
Meanwhile, The Tigers returned to Smithville to face Daniel One Academy in the Mike Braswell Gymnasium at DeKalb Middle School at 10 a.m. on Saturday, taking a 61-21 win over the team from Putnam County.
DeKalb jumped out to an early lead, outscoring Daniel One 19-7 in the first, 16-3 in the second, 18-4 in the third and 8-7 in the fourth. Evins again showed the way to the basket with 20 points for the Tigers. Harpole put 11 points in, while Colter Norris scored nine points in the game.
Poss and Trey Jones added eight each to the Tiger tally, Wright scored three, and Miguel Ramirez posted two points.
The Tigers moved over to the DCHS gym at 11:30 Saturday morning to meet Riverside Christian Academy, again taking a 78-40 game.
The Tigers took the lead early in the game and didn’t let go, outpacing Riverside 20-10 in the first, allowing RCS to score 16 in the second while only answering with 14, then exploding with 30 points in the third period while holding Riverside to only 6. A 13-8 Tiger fourth period clinched the win.
Evins continued to dominate the court, posting 19 points in the contest, while Poss put 14 in. Harpole and Wright added 13 points each, Jones put five on the board, Norris scored three and Ethan Cantrell helped out with two.
To finish up the day, DeKalb faced off with the Chattanooga Patriots at 1:45, this time coming out on top in a 66-35 contest.
The Tigers again took the lead from the start and held on, with a 22-15 first period, a 9-8 second period, a 14-6 third period, and a 21-6 fourth, all in DeKalb’s favor. Harpole topped the Tiger offense in the game, scoring 18 points. Poss put in 15, while Evins contributed 14 points for the game.
Jones dropped five in for DeKalb and Austin Johnson added three. Norris, Cantrell and Ethan Martin contributed two points each to the win.
The Tigers began regular season play last night at home against Boyd Christian, and will travel to York Institute Friday to take on the Dragons.
