DeKalb West School kicked off its basketball season last week with the Best of the West Tournament. While the Lady Bulldogs struggles, the Bulldogs came out strong in the event.

On Tuesday, October 22, the Bulldogs took on Friendship Christian in their first game of the season. The Bulldogs would start off strong, but FC would roll ahead late in the game.

DWS scored 11 points in the first period, with a two and three-point basket by Levi Cripps, and two-point shots by Maddux Pyburn, Aiden Garza and Lucas Nokes. FC came away with seven points.

The Bulldogs added six to the board in the second period, with Pyburn, Garza and Christian Cripps each with a two-pointer. Friendship pushed ahead with 14 points, and the 21-17 halftime lead.

DeKalb was held to just four points in the third period, with a three-pointer by Levi Cripps and a free throw by Garza. FC matched DWS with four of their own.

Christian Cripps had a two-point shot for the Bulldogs in the fourth, while Pyburn and Nokes each had a free throw. Friendship steamed ahead with 19 points, taking the 47-25 win.

On Wednesday, the Silver Bulldogs faced Forks River in what would be a close game. The Bulldogs scored two points in the first period, with Landon Holmes scoring on a two-point basket. Forks River scored eight points.

DWS got moving in the second period, with Holmes hitting a two and three-pointer, while Brantley Watley and Adien Garza each had a two-point basket. Forks River scored five and held a 13-11 lead at the half.

Lucas Nokes added a pair of two-point shots to the board in the third period, while Kaden Mullinax, Holmes and Garza each had one two-pointer. Forks River put 10 on the board, hanging in their 23-21.

The Bulldogs came away with 11 points in the fourth, with a two-pointer and a free throw by Garza, a three-point basket by Jackson Dunaway, two-pointers by Watley and Holmes, and a free throw by Nokes. Forks River was held to seven points, giving DWS the 32-30 win.

On Friday, the Lady Bulldogs took on Tuckers Crossroads in a tough silver varsity game.

Kaylee Womack scored the lone two-pointer for the Lady Bulldogs in the first period, while Tuckers was also held to two.

The Lady Bulldogs put eight on the board in the second period, with Womack and Katy Jo Bowen each with a three, and Katelyn Fry with a two-pointer. Tuckers was held off the board, giving DWS the 10-2 lead at the half.

DWS scored four in the third, with Shayla Rebertus amd Alex Vincent each with a two-point basket. Tuckers also score four.

The Lady Bulldogs were held scoreless in the fourth period, while Tuckers scored four. It would not be enough. DWS took the 14-10 victory.

On Saturday the action was going again as the Bulldogs seventh graders took on Smith County. The Bulldogs would score 13 in the first period, with a pair of twos by Garza and Holmes, a two-pointer and a free throw by Nokes, and one two-point shot by Watley. Smith was held to two.

DWS came away with seven in the second, with a two and three-pointer by Dunaway, and a two-pointer by Grady Thomason. Smith was held to five.

The Bulldogs added 11 to the board in the third. Dunaway had a two and three-pointer, while Thomason had a two-point basket. Smith came away with 10 points.

Dunaway added a two-pointer in the fourth while Holmes had a pair of free throws. Smith was held to two, giving the Bulldogs the 35-19 win. The Bulldogs claimed first place in the Silver Division.

In the Gold round, DeKalb West took on Walter J. Baird in a tough game. DWS was held off the board in the first period, while Baird scored eight.

The Bulldogs finally got going in the second, with six points, all on free throws. Levi Cripps, Holmes and Garza each had two. Baird added nine to their score.

Levi added a pair of two-point baskets in the third, while Pyburn had three free throw points. Baird added 12, and was up 29-13.

The Bulldogs ended with five more points, with a three by Holmes and a two by Bentley. Baird added six and took the 35-18 win.

In a Silver girls game, the Lady Bulldogs took on Smith County. The Lady Bulldogs only scored two in the first, with a two by Alex Vincent. Smith added 13 points.

Katelyn Fry hit on a two-pointer and a free throw in the second, while Smith added 12 more points.

Kaylee Womack had a pair of two-pointers for DWS in the third, while Fry added one. Smith came away with six points and the 31-11 lead.

Womack scored another two for DeKalb in the fourth, but that was all there was. Smith score four and took the 35-13 win.