The DeKalb County High School Tigers basketball team began their season last week, hosting a tournament at DCHS.
On Friday, Nov. 14, the Tigers took on Daniel 1 Academy of Cookeville in what would be a good win for the team. DeKalb started off slow in the first half, then shifted up two gears in the second half.
The Tigers took the lead in the first period, scoring 10 points with a two and three-pointer by Aaron Haggard and a pair of two-pointers by Gentry Harpole. D1A stayed close, scoring six points.
D1A outscored the Tigers in the second period, taking 13 points and holding DeKalb to only seven. Kevin Aldino had the only basket in the period, a two-pointer. D1A took the 19-17 lead as the half ended.
The Tigers may have ended the first half behind on the scoreboard, but they came out on fire in the second. DeKalb put up 32 points, including five two-pointers and three three-point shots by Justin Bone, and a pair of three-pointers by Haggard. Isaac Beck also had a two and three-point basket, while Aldino had a two-pointer. D1A had only 10 points, giving DeKalb the 49-29 lead.
DeKalb kept up the pressure in the fourth period, putting 27 more points on the board. John Roller had two two-pointers, and two three-point baskets, while Beck had one each. Bone and Marshal Evins each had a pair of two-point shots. Seth Wright and Haggard also got in on the action, each getting a two-pointer of their own. D1A mustered only 14 points, with DeKalb taking the 76-43 win.
Wright went two for five on free throws, while Bone was one for three. Beck was two for two, and Aldino was one for two.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Tigers were back on the court, this time facing off with the Trousdale County. Once again, DeKalb would come away with a big win.
The Tigers opened up the game scoring 26 points in the first period. Bone was the big scorer, getting four two-point baskets and a three-point shot. Beck and Haggard each had a two and three-point basket, while Harpole had two two-pointers. TCHS was held to only six points.
DeKalb continued to dominate in the second period, adding 17 more points. Evins and Andrew Cornelius each had a three-point basket, while Roller and Noah Parsley each had a two-pointer. Trousdale came away with only five points, and the Tigers held a 43-11 lead at halftime.
The Tigers picked up where they had left off in the third period, putting 22 more points on the board. Beck had three two-point shots, while Bone had two. Harpole and Parsley each added a two-point basket. TCHS had six points, with DeKalb increasing their lead, 65-17.
Parsley had a pair of two-pointers in the fourth, while Wright, Cornelius, and Trey Jones each added a two-pointer of their own. The Tigers sealed the game with 13 points, to Trousdale’s eight, taking the 78-25 victory.
Roller, Parsley, and Evins were each three for four on free throws, wile Wright and Cornelius were two for two. Bone was two for three, and Aldino was one for two.
Next, the Tigers faced off with the Chattanooga Patriots. Again, the Tigers came to play, and outscored their opponent in every period.
DeKalb came away with 16 points in the first period, including three two-pointers by Bonem two by Harpole, and one two-point basket Aldino. The Patriots were held to eight points, with DeKalb taking a lead they would not let go of.
The Tigers repeated in the second period, adding 16 more points. Aldino, Bone, Haggard, Harpole, and Wright each had a two-pointer, while the Patriots were held to 10 points. The Tigers held an impressive 32-18 lead going into the half.
Bone and Harpole each had a pair of two-point shots in the third, while Beck, Aldino, and Roller each had two-point baskets of their own. The Tigers put up 15 points, while again holding Chattanooga to only eight. DeKalb boasted a 47-26 lead going into the fourth.
Things only got better in the final period. DeKalb scored 17 points with Beck and Evins each getting a couple of two-point shots, while Aldino, Bone, and Harpole each had two-pointers of their own. The Patriots scored only five more points, giving DeKalb the 64-31 victory.
Bone was four for six on free throws, while Beck and Wright were each three for four. Harpole was two for two, while Aldino and Evins were one for two. Parsley was zero for two.
The Tigers’ next game pitted them against Boyd Christian, with Boyd keeping things close. It would be in the second half that the Tigers pulled away and sealed the win.
DeKalb put up 20 points in the first period, including three two-point baskets and a three-pointer by Bone, and two two-pointers by Harpole. Beck and Parsley also each had a two-point basket. Boyd stayed close behind, scoring 19 points.
With a two and two three-point baskets by Bone, and three two-pointers by Beck, the Tigers increased their lead by putting up 18 more points. Harpole also had a two-pointer, while Boyd was held for only 12 points. DeKalb held a 38-31 lead at the half.
The Tigers continued to move further away from Boyd in the third period. DeKalb scored 15 points to Boyd’s nine. Beck was the top scorer, getting two two-pointers and a three-point shot. Bone and Harpole also each had a two-point basket. The Tigers lead grew, 53-40.
DeKalb didn’t let up in the fourth, scoring 19 points and holding Boyd to 11. Beck had a two and three-pointer, while Haggard and Evins each had one three-point basket. Aldino, Harpole, Parsley, and Jones each had a two-point shot. The Tigers took the victory, 72-51.
DCHS finished out the day with a game against Sewannee, and again came away with a big win.
The Tigers scored 27 in the first period, while holding Sewannee to only 14. Beck had three three-point shots, while Aldino had one. Harpole took four two-pointers, while Bone had one.
The lead increased in the second period, with the Tigers getting 20 points to Sewannee’s six. Beck had a two and three-point basket, while Aldino had three two-pointers. Wright also had a three-point shot. DeKalb took a 47-20 lead at halftime.
Sewannee outscored the Tigers in the third period, getting 19 points to DeKalb’s 17. Again, Beck was the top scorer, getting three two-point shots. Bone, Roller, and Harpole each had a two-point basket. The Tigers kept the lead, 64-39.
DeKalb was back on top in the fourth period, sealing the win with 23 more points and holding Sewannee to 14. Wright, Roller, Parsley, and Evins each had a pair of two-pointers, while Harpole had one. The Tigers took the 87-53 victory.
Parsley went three for five on free throws, while Bone was three for four. Beck and Harpole were two for three, while Aldino, Evins, and Jones were two for two. Cornelius was one for two, while Wright was zero for two.