The DeKalb County High School Lady Tigers basketball team traveled to Maryville, TN, last week to participate in the Renasant Bank Christmas Tournament. There, the girls found some tough competition during their two days of play.
On Tuesday, December 27, the Lady Tigers took to the court to face off with McMinn Central. McMinn would jump out with a big lead and never look back.
DeKalb scored 14 points in the first period, with Ella VanVranken putting up three two-point baskets and a free throw, while Dare Collins had a three-pointer and a two-point shot. Chloe VanVranken added a pair of free throw points. McMinn was on fire scoring 27.
The Lady Tigers put 11 points on the board in the second period, with Ella VanVranken hitting a two-point goal and five free throws, while Tess Barton and Cam Branin each got on the board with a two-pointer. McMinn continued to pile on the points, adding 21 and taking a 48-25 lead at the half.
Chloe VanVranken sank a couple of two-point baskets and a free throw for the Lady Tigers in the third period, while Ella VanVranken and Avery Agee each added a two-point shot. McMinn couldn’t be stopped. They added 24 points and took a 72-34 lead.
Madison Martin sank a tow-pointer for DeKalb in the fourth, but unfortunately that would be then only points the Lady Tigers would see. McMinn added 11 points and claimed the 83-36 win.
Ella VanVranken was the top scorer for DeKalb with 16 points, while her sister Chloe came away with seven. Collins had five points, while Barton, Branin, Martin and Agee each had two.
The following day, the Lady Tigers were back on the court, this time taking on a team from Lafayette, KY. It would be a much tighter game.
Avery Agee sank a pair of three-point baskets for the Lady Tigers in the first period, with Cam Branin added a couple of free throw points. Lafayette came away with the lead, scoring 13.
The Lady Tigers got hot in the second period, scoring 20 points. Ella VanVranken got on the board with three two-point shots, a three-pointer, and a pair of free throws, while Dare Collins hit a two-pointer and a free throw. Agee added another three-point basket, while Chloe VanVranken added three free throw points. Lafayette matched DeKalb point for point and held a 33-28 halftime lead.
DeKalb would add 16 points to their tally in the third period. Once again Ella VanVranken hit on a three-pointer, two-pointer and three free throws, while Agee added a pair of two-point shots. Tess Barton and Cam Branin each had a two-point basket. Again, Lafayette matched the Lady Tigers point for point, and claimed a 49-44 lead.
Both Ella and Chloe VanVranken had a couple of two-point shots and a pair of free throws in the fourth period, while Barton had a two-pointer of her own. Agee also added a free throw point. Defensively, Lafayette was just too much. They scored 18, and claimed the 67-59 victory.
Ella VanVranken was on top of the scoreboard for DeKalb with 25 points in the game. Agee had 14, Chloe VanVranken had nine, Branin and Barton each had four, and Collins had three.
