The DeKalb County High School basketball teams finally got their season going last week, starting off with some big wins in front of the hometown crowd.
On Tuesday, November 17, the Lady Tigers kicked off the season, taking on a visiting team from Whitehouse. The team would have a strong opening performance, outscoring the Lady Devils in the first quarter, two to one.
Ella VanVraken had a pair of three-point baskets and a two-pointer, while Megan Cantrell had two three-point shots herself. Grace Griffin got in on the action with a three-point basket, with Kadee Ferrell getting a two-pointer and a free throw. Summer Crook also added a couple of points from free throws. The Lady Tigers took a 22-11 lead.
The Lady Tigers kept up the pressure in the second quarter with Cantrell getting another pair of three-pointers, while Ferrell had a couple of two-point baskets. VanVraken had a three-point shot and Cadee Griffin a two-pointer. Whitehouse was held to 10 points, giving the Lady Tigers a 37-21 halftime lead.
Ferrell was on fire in the third quarter, coming away with four two-point baskets and three free throw points. Cantrell and Madison Martin each had a three-point shot, while VanVraken added another two-pointer. The Lady Devils were held to 14 points, giving DeKalb a 56-35 lead.
The Lady Tigers added 18 points to the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, with Ferrell getting two more two-point shots, Xharia Lyons a two-pointer and a couple of free throws, and Natalie Snipes a three-pointer. Griffin had a two-pointer and a free throw, Crook a two-pointer, and Tess Barton two points off of free throws. The Lady Devils would only get 13 points, giving the Lady Tigers the 74-48 victory.
The Tigers would have a much tougher opening game, with fans on the edge of their seats through much of the game. In the first quarter, Brayden Antoniak had a three-point basket and a two-pointer, while Jordan Young and Luke Jenkins each had a three-pointer. Elishah Ramos had a two-pointer and a free throw point. The Tigers scored 14, but the Blue Devils stayed right with them, getting 12 points of their own.
Jenkins added a two and three-point basket for the Tigers in the second quarter, while Young, Antoniak, and Evan Jones each had two-pointers. The Blue Devils added 10 points, keeping within striking distance of DeKalb's 25-22 halftime lead.
Tigers' fans were on edge in the third quarter with DeKalb only scoring eight points. Ramos had a three-point basket, with Jones getting a two-pointer and a free throw, and Antoniak a two-pointer. Whitehouse put 11 points on the board, tying the score, 33 all.
The Tigers stepped up their game in the fourth quarter, getting 18 points. Young had a pair of three-point baskets and a couple of free throws, while Ramos had a two-pointer and a pair of free throw points. Antoniak had a two-point shot and free throw, while Jenkins added a three-point shot of his own. The Blue Devils were held to 15 points, giving DeKalb the 51-48 victory.
The teams next were on the road for Saturday night games at the Hall of Fame contests in Pickett County. It would not be a good night for DeKalb.
For the Lady Tigers the girls got off to a slow start, scoring just 11 points in the first quarter. Cantrell and Griffin each had three-pointers, while VanVraken had a couple of two-point shots. Ferrell had a free throw. Pickett County put 21 on the board.
It would be all VanVraken for the Lady Tigers in the second quarter, scoring 9 points, but Pickett County would pull away with 26 points, giving them a 47-20 halftime lead.
Madison Martin had a pair of two-point baskets and three free throw points in the third quarter, while Ferrell had a two-pointer. VanVraken had two free throw points, while Cantrell, Crook, and Lyons each had one. Pickett County added another 26 to their tally, giving them a 73-33 lead.
VanVraken had three two-point shots in the fourth quarter, with Ferrell getting two. Martin had a two-pointer and a free throw point, while Lyons had a two-pointer. It was not enough as Pickett County added 9 points and secured their 82-48 win.
The Tigers took the court next and would once again find themselves in a tight game early on. Ramos had a pair of three-point shots for the Tigers in the first quarter, while Jenkins had a pair of two-pointers. Pickett County stayed right with them, scoring 10 points and tying the score.
DeKalb scored nine points in the second quarter, with Ramos getting two two-pointers, and a free throw, Stetson Agee a a two-point shot and a free throw, and Robert Wheeler a free throw point. Pickett would score 21, taking a 31-19 halftime lead.
Jones would have three two-point baskets and a free throw in the third quarter, while Jenkins added a two-pointer. Pickett County would continue to pull away however, adding 20 more points and taking a 51-28 lead.
The Tigers would get 19 points in the fourth, with Young, Zack Birmingham, and Nathaniel Crook each getting a three-point shot, Wheeler a two-pointer, and Aiden Curtis a free throw. Pickett matched them point for point though, securing the 70-40 win.
Tigers Head Coach John Sanders told the Smithville Review that though it's early in the season, he expects good things from his team this year. "The guys are working very hard and are very coach able. We've got a lot of guys coming back from last year's team. We're still sort of young. We only have three seniors, Luke Jenkins and Evan Jones, with Aiden Curtis joining the team this year. But, we've got several guys coming back that got playing time last year, so I'm excited about this group."
When asked about how his team stands up in the district, Coach Sanders said, "District wise I'd say we're right in the middle of the pack. Upperman is really good, and will probably be at the top. York, Livingston, Watertown ... those four teams the last several years have been at the top. They'll be the ones you have to knock off to get to where you want to be."
"Our starters are looking good this year. Elishah Ramos was a freshman last year and played a lot. He was Freshman of the Year in the district. Jordan Young is a junior, and played a lot as a sophomore. Brayden Antoniak is a junior and played a lot as a sophomore. Robert Wheeler is another sophomore. He didn't get to play much last year because of a knee injury, but we're looking for gig things out of all those guys."
Lady Tigers Head Coach Danny Fish also had praise for his team in the early season. "After the first game we looked pretty good, but we saw a few things we need to improve on. We also saw some things that we did well. It's good to watch some of our young players get off to a good start."
"We have four seniors this year and they look pretty good. Grace Griffin gave us some really good minutes in the first game, and Megan Cantrell shot the ball well. Hannah Willingham ran the show when she came off the bench. Ellie Cripps has been in quarantine and hopefully will be back around Thanksgiving."
Both teams have a busy Thanksgiving week, with two road trips and a home game.
