Lions end Tiger season

The Tigers hoped the third time would be the charm just like it was last year when they ended Cannon County’s season in the first round of the district tournament. However, instead of history repeating itself, the Lions were able to get a measure of revenge and complete a season sweep of the Tigers, sending DeKalb County home for the season with a 41-39 defeat.

The loss ended the Tiger season at 7-22 while Cannon County extended their season by at least three games as they punched their regional invitation by making the final four in the district.

The Tigers came into the game after they were routed by Cannon County 73-42 in Woodbury less than two weeks prior. Their first meeting last month in Smithville was a game DeKalb led until faltering down the stretch to lose by eight. It was a carbon copy of last year when Cannon swept both regular season games but was eliminated by the Tigers in their district tilt at Hooper Eblen on Tennessee Tech campus. This year the second round of the playoffs was held at Watertown.

Cannon began the game where they left off during the blowout in Woodbury, going up 18-10 after one. They maintained their lead into the half, going to the locker room up 25-19. However, the Tiger defense came to life in the third and limited the Lions to just five points while bucketing 11 themselves behind a 14-point performance by Dallas Cook who was playing in his last game as a Tiger.

While going into the final frame neck-and-neck, the Tigers would not put away the Lions who were managed to stay a bucket ahead for the win. Jordan Young joined Cook in the double digit club with 10.

The Tigers got the chance to play Cannon after they bested Macon County 70-58 in the first round of the district tournament. The Tigers led cover-to-cover in the district tilt, avenging their loss at Macon County last week. They were up by 20 after three and were able to fend off a last Macon charge for the win.

The game marked the arrival of freshman Tiger Elishah Ramos who had 23, marking his highest output of the year. Cook had 12 and DaKota White had 10.