The DeKalb County Tigers basketball team had a rough week last week, splitting a pair of road games, then falling later in the week at home.

On Monday, January 31, the Tigers were on the road, traveling to Carthage where they would take on the Smith County Owls. The team had fallen to the Owls 76-66 back in December, but would have a closer game this time with the game going into overtime.

The Tigers would jump out with the lead in the first period, scoring 18 points while holding the Owls to just seven. Stetson Agee hit on a pair of three-point baskets and a couple of free throws, while Jordan Young had a three-pointer and one free throw. Brayden Antoniak had a couple of two-pointer, while Robert Wheeler had one.

DeKalb came away with 12 points in the second period, with Agee and Elishah Ramos each sinking a three-point shot, while Isaac Knowles got on the board with a two-pointer and a free throw. Wheeler added another two-pointer, while Zack Birmingham had a free throw point. Smith put 17 points on the board, but the Tigers held a 30-24 lead at the half.

Antoniak put a pair of two-pointers on the board for the Tigers in the third period, while Young sank another three-point basket. Agee, Wheeler, and Birmingham each added a two-pointer to the board. The Owls were held to 11 points, increasing DeKalb’s lead, 43-35.

The Owls came out strong in the fourth period, scoring 14 points. For the Tigers, Wheeler hit a couple of two-pointers while Antoniak came away with one. Smith had tied the game at 49, sending it into overtime.

It was a battle in the overtime period. Young hit a two-pointer and three free throws for the Tigers, while Wheeler sank a pair of two-point shots. Agee and Birmingham each hit a two-pointer, while Antoniak added a free throw point. DeKalb scored 14 points, but unfortunately Smith came away with 18, taking the 67-63 win.

Agee was the top scorer for the Tigers with 15, while Wheeler came away with 14. Young had 12 points, Antoniak had 11, Birmingham had five, and Ramos and Knowles each had three.

The Tigers would have a better outcome as they traveled to Lafayette to face the Macon County Tigers. Macon would put up a fight in the first half, but slowly DeKalb chipped away at their lead.

DeKalb only came away with six points in the first period, with Knowles sinking a pair of two-point baskets and Wheeler sinking one. Macon opened up with 17 points and the early lead.

Young hit on a pair of three-point shots for DeKalb in the second period, while Antoniak had three two-point baskets. Wheeler added two two-pointers as well. Macon was held to just nine points, but they still held a 26-22 lead at halftime.

The DeKalb Tigers kept on rolling in the third period, with Young getting a two and three-point shot, while Knowles added a two-pointer and a couple of free throws. Ramos had a two-pointer and one free throw point, while Agee sank a two-pointer of his own. Macon was held to just eight points, giving DeKalb the 36-34 lead.

Close got on the board for the Tigers in the fourth with a two and three-point basket, while Agee added a two-pointer and a couple of free throws. Antoniak had a two-pointer, while Ramos, Knowles, and Young each added one free throw point. Macon was held to 11 points, giving DeKalb the 50-45 victory.

Young was the top scorer for DeKalb with 12 points, followed by Knowles with nine. Antoniak had eight points, Agee and Wheeler each had six, Close had five, and Ramos had four points.

On Thursday, the team was back at home, playing a game that had been postponed due to snow earlier last month. The Tigers would be facing the Warren County Pioneers.

Things went good for the Tigers in the first half of the game, with DeKalb scoring 14 points in the first period. Stetson Agee scored on three three-point baskets, while Conner Close and Elishah Ramos each sank a two-point shot. Isaac Knowles also got on the board with a free throw point. The Pioneers were held to nine points.

The Tigers kept the pressure up in the second period, scoring 16 points. Close had a two-point shot and three free throw points, while Agee added a three-pointer and two free throws. Knowles and Ramos each had a two-pointer, and Jordan Young added a pair of free throws. The Pioneers, began clawing their way back, scoring 18 points. DeKalb held a 30-27 lead at the half.

The momentum changed in the third period, with the Tigers held to just six points. Ramos had a couple of two-pointers, while Robert Wheeler had one. Warren County pulled ahead, scoring 17 points and taking a 44-36 lead.

Close had a three-pointer, a two-pointer, and three free throws for the Tigers in the fourth, while Ramos added a two-point basket, a three-pointer and one free throw point. Wheeler also put up a two-point shot and a free throw. It would not be enough. The Pioneers managed 13 points, and the 57-53 victory.

Close was the top scorer for the Tigers with 15 points, followed by Agee and Ramos who each had 14. Wheeler had five points, Knowles had three, and Young had two.