The DeKalb County High School Lady Tigers basketball team faced some tough opponents on the road last week, before coming home to take on Warren County in the week’s only home game. The road would be kind to DeKalb, while a battle took place at home.

On Monday, January 31, the Lady Tigers traveled to Smith County where they would face the Lady Owls. The last time the teams met, the game went into overtime with Smith County coming out on top. This night DeKalb would fare better.

The Lady Tigers jumped ahead in the first period, scoring 18 points. Kadee Ferrell, who injured her ankle in the last meeting with Smith, scored three two-point baskets and four free throws, while Avery Agee and Ella Hendrixson each had a three-pointer. Ella Van Vranken added a two-point shot. Smith County came away with 13 points.

The Lady Owls came back in the second period, scoring 11 points while holding DeKalb to only four. Van Vranken and Hendrixson put the only points on the board for the Lady Tigers, each with a two-point shot. Smith took the 24-22 lead at halftime.

The roles were reversed in the third period, as the Lady Tigers put 18 points on the board, while holding the Lady Owls to only six. Madison Martin sank a pair of three-pointers, while Agee added a three-pointer and a two-pointer. Van Vranken had a three-point basket and a couple of free throw points, while Xharia Lyons added a two-point shot. DeKalb was up, 40-30.

DeKalb came away with 14 points in the fourth, with Ferrell sinking a pair of two-pointers, while Agee and Martin each had a three-point basket. Van Vranken added four points on free throws. Smith was held to 12 points, giving the Lady Tigers the 54-42 victory.

Ferrell was the top scorer for DeKalb, getting 14 points with Van Vranken second with 13. Agee came away with 11, Martin had nine, Hendrixson five, and Lyons had two points.

The following night the team was again on the road, this time to the far away land of Macon County. It would be another good night for the Lady Tigers.

Things would start off slow for DeKalb, with the Lady Tigers scoring 11 in the first period, while Macon came away with 10. Van Vranken scored on a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Agee had a three-point basket of her own. Ferrell also added a two-pointer and a free throw.

It was Van Vranken again for the Lady Tigers in the second period, scoring on a pair of three-point shots and a two-pointer. Ferrell and Lyons would each have a free throw point. Macon was held to only five, giving DeKalb the 21-15 halftime lead.

The Lady Tigers kept rolling in the third period, with Ferrell sinking four free throws and a two-pointer, while Agee added another three-pointer. Van Vranken also had a two-point basket. Macon was held to nine points. DeKalb was up, 32-24.

DeKalb stepped on the gas in the fourth period, scoring 17 points. Martin got on the board with three two-point shots, while Ferrell had a pair of two-pointers and a couple of free throws. Van Vranken sank a three-pointer, while Hendrixson added a two-point basket. Macon was held to three points, giving DeKalb the 49-27 win.

Van Vranken scored the most points for the Lady Tigers with 18 points, followed by Ferrell with 16. Agee and Martin each had six points, Hendrixson had two, and Lyons had one.

The following Thursday, the Lady Tigers were back on their home court, this time playing Warren County in a makeup game originally scheduled for January 8. In their first meeting Warren would come away with a 52-35 win, but the Lady Tigers would make it a much tougher game this go round.

The Lady Tigers would jump out with the first lead in the game with 13 points in the first period. Van Vranken and Agee each sinking a two and three-point basket, while Ferrell added a two-pointer and a free throw. The Lady Pioneers would claw their way back, scoring 12 points before the end of the quarter.

Van Vranken hit on a two-point shot, a pair of three-pointers, and a couple of free throws for the Lady Tigers in the second period, while Ferrell added four free throws, and Ally Fuller a two-pointer. Warren caught fire, scoring 29 and taking the 41-29 halftime lead.

DeKalb rallied in the third period, scoring 16 points while holding Warren to only 11. Ferrell had three two-point baskets and a couple of free throws, while Van Vranken and Agee each had a three-pointer. Cam Branin also had a two-point shot. The Lady Tigers had cut the lead, 52-45.

It all came down to the fourth period, and the Lady Tigers would tie the game at 58 with just two minutes left to play. Van Vranken would have a two and three-point basket, while Martin and Agee would each have a three-pointer and a free throw. Unfortunately, the Lady Pioneers would take control after that. Warren matched DeKalb point for point, coming away with the 65-58 win.

Van Vranken was the top scorer with 23 points, followed by Ferrell with 15. Agee had 12 points, Martin had four, and Fuller and Branin each had two.