The DeKalb County High School Tigers opened their season last week with a fury, playing five games in a week and having another game forfeited by the other team.
On Nov. 12 the Tigers traveled to McMinnville to face the Broncos of Boyd Christian.
The Tigers took the early lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Broncos 19-11. Ethan Roller had three three-pointers and one two-pointer, while Kaleb Ferrell had two two-pointers. Justin Frazier had one two-point shot.
The second quarter was more of the same, with the Tigers coming away with 14 points to the Broncos’ seven. Roller had two three-pointers and one two-point hoop, while Ferrell and Frazier each had a two-pointer. The Tigers were up, 33-18.
The Broncos outscored the Tigers in the third quarter, 19-14, but DeKalb still commanded a big lead. Ferrell had a three-pointer and a two-point shot, while Bone had three two-pointers. Steven Jennings had a three-pointer. DeKalb’s lead shrank, 47-37.
The Broncos came out fired up in the fourth quarter, coming away with 22 points, but DeKalb kept up with the pace, getting 18 points of their own. Roller had a three-pointer, while Bone had two two-pointers. DeKalb would take the win in their first game, 65-59.
Roller went 10 for 14 on free throws, while Bone went three for five. Ferrell was one for six, Jennings one for three, and Eli Lomas was zero for four.
That same evening the Tigers traveled to Cannon County, where they played Grundy County.
The Tigers found the hoop early, scoring eighteen points in the first quarter. Kaleb Ferrell and Justin Bone each had three two-pointers while Ethan Roller had two. The Tigers outscored Grundy and took the lead, 18-8, and never looked back.
DeKalb put up another 19 points in the second quarter, but Grundy stayed close, scoring 17. Roller had two three-pointers and a two-point shot, while Ferrell came away with three two-pointers. Steven Jennings had a three-point shot and Bone had a two-pointer. DeKalb was up, 37-25.
The Tigers played hard to open up the second half, scoring 26 points to Grundy’s 19. Roller was on fire, getting four three-pointers and one two-point shot. Frazier and Bone each had a two-pointer, and Jennings had a three-pointer.
DeKalb would wrap up the win in the fourth quarter, coming away with 16 more points. Roller had two three-point shots, while Seth Wright had one. Frazier and Jonathon Munoz each had a two-pointer. Grundy would only get 13 points in the fourth, giving the Tigers an easy win, 79-57.
Roller went six for six on free throws, while Bone was two for two. Frazier and Jennings were each two for two.
On Nov. 16 DCHS hosted the Hall of Fame Playday where teams from all over the area came and played a series of games. The Tigers had four games scheduled, but one, Gabriel Christian, cancelled and forfeited.
That day the Tigers faced Moore in a high-scoring game for the Tigers.
The game looked to be close after the first quarter, but slowly and consistently the Tigers pulled away and gained a big lead. DCHS scored 19 points in the first quarter, with Roller getting two three-point shots and one two-pointer, while Bone had four two-point shots. Lomas had one three-pointer.
In the second quarter the Tigers continued scoring with 18 more points. Roller had a three-pointer and a two pointer, while Lomas and Frazier each had a three-point shot. Seth Wright and Jennings each had a two-pointer. Moore could only get eight points in the second, giving DeKalb a 37-25 lead.
The Tigers would score 23 more points in the third quarter with Roller getting a three-point and a two two-point shots, while Jennings had two three-pointers and a two-pointer. Bone had a three-point and a two-point shot and Ferrell had a two-pointer. Moore got 17 points and the Tigers’ lead increased, 60-42.
DeKalb wrapped things up in the fourth, scoring 19 points to Moore’s 16. Roller and Bone each had a three-pointer and two two-pointers, with Jennings also getting a three-point shot. DeKalb took the victory, 79-58.
Roller and Bone each went two for four on free throws, while Jennings and Trenton Nicoson went one for two.
That same day the Tigers once again faced off with the Broncos of Boyd Christian. The boys would score big in the game, coming away with a 72-39 win.
The Tigers took a 14-7 lead in the first period, with Roller getting two-three-pointers, Jennings one, and Bone two two-pointers.
DeKalb kept up the pressure in the second, getting 11 points to the Broncos’ 10. Lomas came away with two two-pointers, while Roller, Ferrell, and Bone each had one.
The lead was 48-29 at the end of the third, with Roller getting two three-pointers, Jennings two two-point shots and a three-pointer, and Ferrell and Bone each with two two-point shots.
DeKalb would seal the win in the fourth, with Roller getting two three-point shots, and Lomas one three-point shot. Wright had two two-pointers with Bone and Aaron Haggard each getting a two-pointer. DeKalb took the victory, 72-39.
Roller went two for three on free throws, while Jennings was two for two. Bone, Wright, and Matt Alderman were each zero for one.
DeKalb also faced the Middle Tennessee Heat during the playday, a game that was another big victory for the Tigers.
The Tigers took a 19-11 lead in the first period and kept the lead throughout the game. Roller had two two-point shots in the first, and three three-pointers. Frazier and Bone each had a two-point shot.
The lead increased 30-8 at the half, with Bone getting three two-point shots and Frazier making a three-pointer.
The Tigers were even better in the third, scoring 24 points to MTH’s 10. Jennings had two three-pointers and a two-point shot, while Lomas had two three-pointers, and Roller came away with a two-pointer and a three-pointer. The Tigers’ lead was 54-29.
DCHS closed the deal in the fourth, taking the game 69-41. Roller had two three-pointers, while Haggard had a three-point shot and a two-pointer. Bone had a two-point shot in the period.
Roller was three for three for free throws, Ferrell was four for six, and Bone was two for four. Jonathon Munoz and Kevin Aldino were each one for two, and Haggard was zero for one.
Tigers open season with wins

