The DeKalb County High School Tigers and Lady Tigers were back on the court last week, playing two sets of games between Cannon County and the Chattanooga Patriots. Games scheduled for Jan. 21 were cancelled due to weather and poor driving conditions.
On Jan. 24, DeKalb traveled to Woodbury to face the Lions and Lionettes of Cannon County. The games would prove to be tough for both the girls and boys teams.
The girls played first and fell behind early. The Lady Tigers scored 10 points in the first period, with Paige Winningham getting two two-pointers and a three-point shot, and Loren Cripps getting a three-point basket. The Lionettes scored 19 points and took a big lead.
DeKalb got 14 points in the second period, with McKenzie Poteete getting two three-pointers, Jailyn Bolding and Morgan Pedigo with a three-point shot each, and Katie Hall with a two-point goal. Cannon took 23 points however, taking a 42-24 lead at halftime.
The Lady Tigers only scored six points in the third, including a pair of two-pointers by Winningham. The Lionettes were relentless, scoring another 25 points and increasing their lead, 67-30.
DeKalb could only muster 11 points in the fourth, including three two-pointers by Ashli Chew and a two-point goal by Hall. Cannon County would top off their score with eight more points, ending the game with a 75-41 victory.
Winningham went four for four on free throws, while Hall went one for one. Chew was zero for one.
In the boys’ game, the scoring stayed close through the first half, but then the Lions poured it on in the second. The Tigers scored eight points in the first period, including two two-point goals by Justin Bone, and a two-point basket by Kaleb Ferrell. Cannon took 14 points and the lead.
The Tigers outscored the Lions in the second period, getting 12 points to Cannon’s 11. Steven Jennings had a two-pointer and two three-point baskets in the period. The Lions kept the lead at halftime, 25-20.
Cannon County came out fighting in the third period, outscoring DeKalb two to one. The Tigers scored 10 points, with two three-pointers by Jennings, and two two-pointers by Ferrell. The Lions scored 20 points, taking a 45-30 lead.
DeKalb scored 18 points in the fourth period, including two-pointers by Ethan Roller, Eli Lomas, and Bone. The Lions scored 22 points, mostly off of free throws, giving Cannon the 67-48 win.
Roller went four for nine on free throws, while Ferrell was four for five. Austin Frazier was two for two, Bone four for four, Jennings, three for four, and Aaron Haggard one for two.
While the DeKalb teams struggled against the powerhouse of Cannon County, the Tigers and Lady Tigers came back the following day, getting big wins over the Chattanooga Patriots.
On Jan. 25, DCHS was at home, where the teams faced off in afternoon games. The girls played first with the Lady Tigers jumping out to an impressive lead. DeKalb scored 19 points in the first period, including a two-pointer and three-pointer each by Cripps and Pedigo, and two-pointers by Winningham and Poteete. The Patriots were held to only three points.
The Lady Tigers piled on the score in the second period, taking 18 points. Pedigo had two three-point shots, while Cripps took a two and three-pointer. Hall had two two-point baskets, and Bolding had one. Chattanooga was held to eight points, giving DeKalb a 37-11 lead at halftime.
DeKalb kept up the pressure in the third period, getting another 15 points, while holding Chattanooga to only six. Bolding had a two and three-pointer, while Pedigo had a three-point basket. Winningham and Cripps each had a two-pointer. The Lady Tigers were up 52-17.
The Lady Tigers tacked on another nine points in the fourth, including a two and three-pointer by Hannah Panter, and a two-point shot by Chew. Chattanooga was held to four points, giving DeKalb the big victory, 61-21.
Cripps went four for four on free throws, while Bolding and Chew were each two for three. Poteete was two for two, Lexi Bates was one for two, Hall zero for two, and Winningham was zero for one.
The boys picked up where the girls left off, scoring big points and taking an early lead. The Tigers scored 22 points in the first period, including a two-pointer and three three-pointers by Roller, a three-point basket by Jennings, and a two-pointer by Ferrell. The Patriots came away with nine points.
The Tigers had 18 points in the second period, including a two and three-pointer by Roller, three two-pointers by Bone, and two by Frazier. Chattanooga was held to only five points, giving DeKalb a 40-14 lead at the half.
DeKalb came away with 20 points in the third period, while holding the Patriots to only six. Bone had four two-point shots, while Roller had a two and three-pointer. Lomas had a three-point goal, and Frazier and Jennings each had a two-pointer. The Tigers were up 60-20 going into the fourth.
The Tigers had seven points to end the game, with two two-pointers by Aaron Patterson and a three-pointer by Gentry Harpole. Chattanooga came back with 11 points, far from enough. The Tigers took the big win, 67-31.
Ferrell went four for six on free throws, while Bone was three for three. Jennings was two for three.